More than 40,000 people took in the streets of Athens on Thursday to criticize government And voice anger in last The train disaster of the month that claimed 57 lives people.
Television footage showed the outbreak of clashes out Near Syntagma Square parliament in Central Athens.
The police fired tear gas and stun grenades while the demonstrators tried to surround them and threw petrol bombs and stones.
As the protesters retreated, they smashed traffic lights and shop windows And set Litter bins on firesaid Agence France-Presse correspondents.
The tragedy of February 28 revealed decades of safety failures in The Greek railways also put great pressure on the conservative government Before of national elections.
Police said 25,000 people protest in Athens on Thursdays, as well as about 8,500 in all of Country next The largest cities are Thessaloniki and Patras. Short clashes also smash out in Patras police said.
Thursday’s protests were accompanied by a 24-hour strike – the largest to date in days of The strike that followed the disaster – called Greece this time leading private Beside public sector unions.
pulling out shut down Civil service, flights and ferries.
Things must change
Many protesters urged government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis resigns over What is the country’s deadliest railway accident?
“this crime We will not forget ‘the demonstrators of the communists in the country union Bam cheered as the crowd walked towards parliament in Athens.
Students shouted “murderers” and protesters threw leaflets of Mitsotakis wearing The stationmaster’s hat, reading “It’s Everyone’s Fault But Mine”.
The train disaster occurred just before midnight when a passenger train crashed head-on on a freight train in Central Greece after both were wrong left he ran on same path.
Most of The passengers were students returning from a holiday weekend.
“Things have to change in This country, we simply cannot mourn all these deaths,” said Athens protester Stavrola Hatziodorou, in Referring to deadly Forest fires ravaged Greece in Recent years, as well as the train crash.
“Hopefully, things will change in This election, Hatzitheodoro, who He works in the private sector, to AFP.
The stationmaster and three other railway officials were charged, however public Focus anger on Long term mismanagement of the network It has rocked the country before series of Sometimes violent mass protests.
killers
Last week, about 65,000 people took part in Demonstrations across the country, including about 40,000 in Athens.
In addition to 57 people who Many victims were killed remain in hospital, incl one passenger who fight for his life.
The Italian state-owned company operating Railway services in Greece, the Hellenic train, said these sufferers in accident and families of the dead Each will be priced between 5,000 and 42,000 euros ($44,600) to “cover urgent needs”.
“This is it in no way Acceptance of The company stressed Wednesday evening.
the father of one passenger who Matt declined the offer.
“We don’t want they money … This was a mass murder. I refuse to accept an apology from the killers,” Pavlos Aslanidis told Alpha TV. on Thursday.
“If this were a serious country, everyone would be in the Department of Transportation in He said.
Opinion polls are falling
Ground train traffic to a complete Stops were made across the country after the accident, although acting Transport Minister Georgios Gerapetrits said this week that services would gradually resume from March 22.
Gerapetritis said a report prepared by experts investigating the tragedy would be delivered in month time.
Investigators separately opened an investigation into possible Mismanagement of railway funds over the last 15 years.
Gerapetritis and former Transport ministers will appear before a parliamentary committee next Monday to answer questions from lawmakers on tragedy.
with public Anger escalated ahead of the expected elections in May, Mitsotakis saw 7.5 points lead in Polls reduced to just over 3% in recent polls.
It came under fire for Blame it on the human error” for Incident and station manager on duty on time, who She allegedly directed the trains on the same route stretch of Accidentally tracked.
But the railroad unions have been like that for a long time warning on problems on The train is underfunded and understaffed network.
Mitsotakis was expected set The election date is April. Ballots are now projected in maybe.
