Image caption Demonstrators rallied in Athens and other cities

Thousands have protested in Greece against the far-right Golden Dawn party after one of its members assaulted a woman on live TV.

Demonstrators shouted "Neo-Nazis out" in rallies called by left-wing and anti-racism groups in Athens.

On Thursday, Ilias Kasidiaris, a Golden Dawn MP, was filmed hitting a left-wing politician during a chatshow.

The rally comes nine days before elections which could result in a Greek exit from the Eurozone.

In polls a month ago, Golden Dawn surprised many by winning 21 seats in Greece's 300-seat parliament.

A second election is taking place as no party was able to forge a coalition.

Arrest warrant

Prosecutors said an arrest warrant has been issued for Mr Kasidiaris, whose whereabouts remain unknown after he fled the television studio on Thursday.

The assault took place during a live debate on a daily morning political show on the private Antenna television.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Golden Dawn spokesman Ilias Kasidiaris was apparently provoked when his alleged involvement in an armed robbery was mentioned

It started after Rena Dourou of the radical left-wing Syriza party mentioned Mr Kasidiaris's alleged involvement in an armed robbery in 2007.

He jumped up and threw a glass of water across the table at her, a You Tube clip of the Antenna television channel showed.

When Liana Kanelli of the Greek Communist party, the KKE, apparently threw a newspaper at him, he responded by slapping her around the face with three right-left blows.

Speaking to a TV station from an undisclosed location on Friday, Mr Kasidiaris said he had been provoked.

"She (Communist party member Liana Kanelli) raised her hand and hit me first and since I respect my honour and my name, I had to defend myself. The police ought to arrest her," he told Star TV, according to Reuters news agency.

The government and other political parties have condemned the attack.

"The government condemns in the most categorical way the attack by Golden Dawn spokesman Ilias Kasidiaris against Liana Kanelli and Rena Dourou," government spokesman Dimitris Tsiodras said.

"This attack is an attack against every democratic citizen."

Mr Kasidiaris is already facing charges of theft and bodily harm, which he denies.

Golden Dawn campaigned on an anti-immigrant platform, and has even proposed planting mines along Greek borders to prevent the entry of migrants. It has been accused of violent attacks against immigrants in Athens, but denies the claims.