In the Greek capital Athens, police have clashed with youths after they were pelted with stones and Molotov cocktails.

The masked youths had taken advantage of a protest march in the capital.

Riot police responded with tear gas to disperse the rioters.

Thousands of other Greeks held a peaceful protest march in the centre Athens to demonstrate against the government’s drastic austerity measures.

As a result, many government institutions and schools remained closed today. Air traffic controllers, customs officers, police officers and firemen joined the strike. Public transport and ferry services came to a standstill.

The Greek government has announced drastic cuts to tackle its budget deficit of almost 13 percent.