Greek Farmers Clash with Police in Athens during Reforms Protest
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Greek farmers protesting against bailout-related income cuts clashed with riot police outside the agriculture ministry in central Athens on Wednesday.
Police fired tear gas to prevent farmers from forcing their way into the ministry building, while protesters responded by throwing stones. No injuries or arrests were reported.
More than 1,000 farmers, many of whom had traveled overnight from the island of Crete, took part in Wednesday's protest, the Associated Press reported.
Protesters are angry at increases in their tax and social security contributions, part of the income and spending cuts Greece's left-led government has implemented to meet bailout creditor-demanded budget targets.
Farmers have been engaged in a long-running feud with Greek authorities over social security laws introduced in mid-2016 which force them to pay on imputed earnings upfront, and higher pension contributions.
Greece is now engaged in discussions with creditors on additional economic reforms required to meet bailout obligations.
The crisis-hit country signed up to a new credit lifeline worth 86 billion euros in mid-2015, its third since 2010.