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Officials Vow Crackdown as Rioters Trash Athens

Third night of violence across Greece as nation braces for shot teen's funeral

By Peter Fearon, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 9, 2008 2:44 AM CST

(Newser) – Greek officials vowed to crack down on rioters battling police and tearing up Athens and other major cities in the worst street violence in three decades, the Guardian reports. The rioting was sparked Saturday after police shot to death a teenage boy, and intensified violence is expected today as the boy’s funeral takes place. Officials have been criticized for failing to bring the rioters under control, but promised after an emergency meeting yesterday to get tough.

"What is happening both for the economy of our country and our democracy is unacceptable. We will not tolerate these events. We will do what we must," warned the interior minister. Rioters have trashed most of downtown Athens, burning down more than 130 shops and the four-story Olympic Airways building. Minor incidents have also been reported at the Greek embassies in Berlin and London.

[Images (3)]

[Videos (1)]

A youth behind a burning barricade in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki as rioters smashed, burned and looted buildings. (AP Photo / Nikolas Giakoumidis)

Young demonstrators in the center of Athens. The banner in front reads "Time to Throw Them Out!" (AP Photo/Dimitri Messinis)

Riot police confront protesters in the center of Athens as riots raged on for a third day in the Greek capital. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

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Demonstrators clash with police in Athens. (CNN Video)

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Officials Vow Crackdown as Rioters Trash Athens