CLASHES broke out in Athens today during a general strike in Greece that was called in response to a rail disaster last month.

Protesters hurled petrol bombs at a police cordon near the parliament building as riot police used tear gas and sound grenades, during the brief flare-up of violence that disrupted large, peaceful demonstrations. 

There were no immediate reports of injuries or arrests.

The clashes came during a 24-hour nationwide strike organised by the General Confederation of Greek Workers, the Civil Servants’ Confederation, and the Panhellenic Maritime Federation.

The strike grounded flights and extensively disrupted services, while large protests were also held in other cities across the country. Clashes between youths and police also erupted in the southern port city of Patras.

The strike kept ferries to the Greek islands at port, left public hospitals running with emergency staff, halted public transport services and led to class cancellations at state-run schools.

The main protests, which were held in the capital Athens and the second city, Thessaloniki, were described as “gigantic” by grassroots workers group PAME Greece International.

They said: “ No more tears. Our rage becomes struggle.”

Thousands chanted: “This crime will not be forgotten” as they reached a police cordon outside a private rail operator.

Stores and banks lowered their shutters when the protesters filed past as the capital was brought to a standstill. 

Unions have rallied behind railway workers’ associations that have staged rolling walkouts since the head-on train collision in northern Greece on February 28 that left 57 people dead and dozens injured.

Protesters say they will not allow a cover-up of Greece’s worst-ever rail crash.

For years the rail unions have complained that the government is responsible for a lack of investment in the rail network that has led to serious safety concerns.

Unions have described the incident as a crime waiting to happen.

“The crime at Tempi will not be covered up. We claim the life that we deserve, a life with contemporary rights, a better future for us and our children,” said a spokesperson for the Civil Servants Confederation.

Popi Tsapanidou, a spokeswoman for the opposition party Syriza, told private Skai television: “This government has had four years to fix problems with the rail network, but instead of owning up to that responsibility, they are blaming everyone else.”

The government said rail services will restart on March 22 and be restored gradually with additional staff to monitor safety and mandatory speed reduction rules along sections of the track.