Greek police clash with rioting youths

Police clashed with hooded youths and the rector of Athens university was among several injured yesterday as violence flared in demonstrations in the memory of a teenager's killing by a policeman last year.

Athens University rector Christos Kittas was rushed to hospital with an irregular heartbeat and head injuries after protesters broke into the university's central Athens offices to occupy them, police and media said.

A 55-year-old woman was also injured on central Syntagma Square after being struck by police, an AFP photographer said. Four police officers were also injured as hand-to-hand combat erupted with small groups of protesters around the square, a police source said.

In the northern city of Thessaloniki, a Starbucks branch was set on fire and clashes also broke out between protesters and riot police on the sidelines of another large demonstration in 15-year-old Alexis Grigoropoulos' memory.

Over 70 people were detained during the Athens protest, and around 100 in Thessaloniki. A number of shops and banks in both cities had their windows smashed.

Police had also arrested dozens of suspected anarchists on the eve of yesterday's protest in the hope of preventing the riots that followed the death of Mr Grigoropoulos last year and caused millions of euros in damages.

Thousands took part in yesterday's protest called by left-wing groups, student organisations and trade unions to mark the anniversary.

"Youth does not forget," read a banner carried by the demonstrators.

"The state and capital murder on a daily basis, and not just with bullets," said an anarchist banner draped by protesters on the occupied Athens University building. Two hooded youths replaced the Greek flag flying over the university with a red-and-black anarchist flag. The Greek flag was later burned.

A family memorial service for the teenager was held early yesterday in the cemetery of Palio Faliro. His parents had earlier appealed for demonstrations in his memory to remain peaceful, media reports said.

Mr Grigoropoulos was shot dead by a police officer who claimed he fired into the air while under attack from youths.