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 The BBC's Paul Wood:"Anarchists attacked banks"  real 28k  The BBC's Rob WatsonThe protests had been expected  real 28kThe BBC's Paul Wood"This is perhaps the most anti-American country in Europe" real 28k |
Violence greets Clinton visit
Protesters set dozens of shops ablaze |
Thousands of left-wing protesters chanting anti-American slogans have clashed with police and set dozens of shops ablaze at the start of a delayed state visit by US President Bill Clinton to Athens.
Riot police used teargas against thousands of left-wing protesters who had gathered in the central Syndagma Square outside the parliament in Athens, after a small group threatened to storm the building.
As the crowd fled through surrounding streets, fires were started in rubbish bins and some shop windows smashed.
Members of the media were injured in the violence |
The trouble, which the authorities blamed on anarchists, broke out almost exactly as Mr Clinton touched down at Athens airport.
His visit was originally scheduled for last weekend, but was delayed and shortened from three days to one following a series of anti-American protests.
Greek dislike of the US is based partly on Washington's perceived backing of Greece's traditional enemy Turkey. It was fuelled more recently by Nato's offensive against Yugoslavia.
The Greek Public Order Ministry has staged an unprecedented security operation to protect Mr Clinton, deploying some 7,000 police, backed by 400 FBI agents, across the city.
It has closed 12 miles of central Athens' usually-congested streets for the entire day, with bus routes altered for two days.
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Reasons for anti-US sentiment |
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Opposition to Nato's bombing of Yugoslavia |
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Perception that US always backs Turkey in disputes with Greece |
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US's failure to stop Turkey invading Cyprus in 1974 |
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Resentment of US backing of 1967-1974 military dictatorship |
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General left-wing, anti-capitalist feeling |
The security arrangements seemed to anger protesters further.
The Greek Communist Party and two other small left-wing opposition parties urged demonstrators to test police barriers and march to the US Embassy.
Rallies were also planned in other Greek cities, and more than 2,000 protesters burned American flags outside the US Consulate on the northern port of Thessaloniki.
Clinton 'a friend'
Speaking as he disembarked form Air Force One, Mr Clinton said he came to Greece as a "friend" of the country.
"I have come here as a 'philhellene' - a friend of Greece - and I look forward to experiencing that wonderful quality of Greek hospitality known to all the world," he said.
"We look to ancient Greece for inspiration, but we look to modern Greece for leadership and partnership."
Earlier, Mr Clinton had said people should be able to show their feelings.
"Greece is the world's oldest democracy. If people want to protest, they ought to have a chance to do it," he said at a press conference in Turkey.
He also reminded journalists that he had been trying to generate a peace initiative between Greece and Turkey, over the divided island of Cyprus.
"The Greek people and the government should be quite encouraged by this new Cyprus initiative, and by the fact that I found a receptive ear [in Turkey] on three separate occasions when I spoke ... about the necessity of the Turkish people and the Greeks being reconciled," he said.
Because of his new programme, President Clinton's experience of Athens will largely be confined to a high-rise hotel near the airport.
He, his wife Hillary and daughter Chelsea were due to meet Greek leaders behind a cordon of riot police, before travelling on to Florence.
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See also: |
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20 Nov 99 | Europe |
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In pictures: Clinton's violent welcome |
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08 Nov 99 | Europe |
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US targets attacked in Greece |
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23 Aug 99 | Europe |
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Nato's inner Kosovo conflict |
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10 Nov 99 | Europe |
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Clinton postpones Greece visit |
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18 May 99 | Europe |
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Nato differences emerge |
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16 Nov 99 | Europe |
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Clinton stresses dialogue and human rights |
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Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
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