Streets of fire: Protesters set policeman alight as riots erupt in Athens



Rally of 30,000 in capital turns nasty as petrol bombs are hurled at police

Central Bank of Greece attacked, and paving stones smashed

Protesters chat 'Don't obey the rich - fight back!'

Level of 'anger and desperation' increasing, warns union leader

Also scuffles in Greece's second-largest city, Thessaloniki



WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT

Protesters clashed with police today in the Greek capital, Athens, as a 24-hour general strike gripped the financially hit country.



More than 30,000 demonstrators clashed with police near to the Greek parliament buildings, and hurled petrol bombs and stones, causing a dramatic inferno.



To combat the angry protesters, who are unhappy about severe budget cuts, the police sprayed the crowd with tear gas and used stun grenades - but that served to only inflame the situation.

Scroll down for a video of the clashes

Agonising: A policeman makes a desperate attempt to help his colleague who caught fire after protesters threw a petrol bomb in Athens

Help me! The policeman attempts to rip off his burning helmet Attack: A policeman on a motorbike writhes in agony as he is hit with a petrol bomb. His colleague looks on not knowing how to react

The rally in the capital was part of a general strike that crippled services and public transport around the country.



Thousands of peaceful demonstrators ran to side streets to take cover. A police officer was attacked and his uniform caught fire in the city's main Syntagma Square, and his motorcycle was burned.



At least two people were injured and another three arrested. One group of rioting youths smashed paving stones in front of the central Bank of Greece, but there were no immediate reports of any serious damage.



The rally had been calm before the clashes. Protesters were chanting: 'Don't obey the rich - fight back!'



Lining up: The battle lines in Athens are drawn as the riot police prepare to defend themselves against the angry mob

Fight back: A demonstrator wearing a gas mask kicks away a tear gas canister, which was thrown over by the police

Defiant: The rioters, who are angry and desperate after the government's proposed budget cuts, continued to march near to the Greek parliament

On fire: A policeman tries to beat the fire which is engulfing him (left), while a loud hailer shows flecks on blood - the sign of violent clashes - in front of the Greek parliament



They marched to parliament as the city centre was heavily policed. A brass band, tractors and cyclists joined in.



It was part of Greece's first major labour protest this year as Prime Minister George Papandreou faces international pressure to make more lasting cuts after the nation's debt-crippled economy was rescued from bankruptcy by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.

The 24-hour strike halted trains, ferries and most public transport across the country, and led to the cancellation of more than 100 flights at Athens International Airport. The strike also the closed the Acropolis and other major tourist sites.



Inferno: Greek riot police run though fire on the streets of Athens as they are attacked by 30,000 protesters with petrol bombs and stones

Protests: The thousands of demonstrators march in front of the Greek parliament building

Fire ball: As the peaceful protests turned nasty, the protesters hurled petrol bombs outside the government building

Under pressure: Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou was forced to make the severe cuts to right the weak economy

State hospital doctors, ambulance drivers, pharmacists, lawyers and tax collectors joined school teachers, journalists and thousands of small businesses as more middle-class groups took part in the protest than have in the past.



Athens' main shopping district was mostly empty, as many small business owners shuttered their stores.



Unions are angry at the ongoing austerity measures put in place by the Socialist government in exchange for a £93 billion bailout loan package from European countries and the IMF.



Stathis Anestis, deputy leader of Greece's largest union, the GSEE, said workers should not be asked to make more sacrifices during a third straight year of recession.



'The measures forced on us by the agreement with our lenders are harsh and unfair,' he said.

'We are facing long-term austerity with high unemployment and destabilising our social structure.

'What is increasing is the level of anger and desperation. If these harsh policies continue, so will we.'



Elsewhere, about 15,000 people gathered and minor scuffles broke out in Greece's second largest city, Thessaloniki, while Mr Anestis said around 60 demonstrations were being planned in cities and towns across the country. He said the GSEE was in talks with European unions to try and co-ordinate future strikes with other EU countries.



Earlier this month, international debt monitors said Greece needed a 'significant acceleration' of long-term reforms to avoid missing its economic targets.

Hit: A photographer is caught up in the riots and his trousers are ablaze



