Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- ["The crowd of at least 4,000 protesters later dispersed peacefully after marching through the city holding banners reading "No to privatisation" and "The world is not for sale."...The marchers, many wearing colourful T-shirts from previous anti-globalisation rallies, also protested against NATO's presence in the Balkans."] Protesters march against Greek PM's policy speech By Jeremy Gaunt THESSALONIKI, Greece, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Thousands of anti-globalisation and leftist demonstrators marched through the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki on Saturday to protest against the Greek government's economic and social policies. The march, planned to coincide with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis's annual economic address at an international trade fair, forced authorities to mobilise 2,500 regular and anti-riot police in case of trouble. A small group of demonstrators charged the police cordon guarding the speech venue. Some hurled sticks and bottles at the police who held their ground. There were no apparent injuries. The crowd of at least 4,000 protesters later dispersed peacefully after marching through the city holding banners reading "No to privatisation" and "The world is not for sale." "For years the people sacrificed a lot. It's time to give back to the people. We want to change government policy," said local doctor Antonis Karavas, an anti-globalisation rally veteran. Hundreds of protesters, mostly veterans of the huge and violent demonstration in Genoa, Italy, against the Group of Eight summit in July, had travelled from Athens. Others were trade unionists and leftist activists. Police cordoned off the hall where Simitis outlined his economic vision for the nation, and barred demonstrators from coming closer than 300 metres (yards). Simitis pledged to push on with structural reforms and privatisations but also keep social measures high on his agenda. "Our principles are not negotiable," he said. "Social policy requires national product growth, otherwise we fight misery only with words." The protesters oppose the government's privatisation plans, in particular the sell-off of ailing Olympic Airways and a strategic portion of Hellenic Petroleum. The marchers, many wearing colourful T-shirts from previous anti-globalisation rallies, also protested against NATO's presence in the Balkans. Thessaloniki was a hotbed of protest against NATO's bombing campaign in Yugoslavia in 1999 and is a transit point for the alliance in its current peacekeeping role. "Bring back the Greek soldiers," read one banner, referring to Greek peacekeeping troops in Kosovo. Police had said on Friday they expected as many as 5,000 demonstrators. Previous protests have attracted numbers in the hundreds and security has been handled by local police. At summits such as Genoa, violence has broken out when demonstrators have attempted to break through police cordons or shut down the event. 15:35 09-08-01 ------------------------------------------------- This Discussion List is the follow-up for the old stopnato @listbot.com that has been shut down ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9spWA Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: [email protected] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
