1 Dead in Athens Protests

Victim may have suffered heart attack
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 20, 2011 11:48 AM CDT
1 Dead in Athens Protests
Riot policemen assist colleagues whose clothing caught fire after being hit by a petrol bomb during rioting in central Athens, Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011.   (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

An Athens anti-austerity demonstration turned violent today when rioters attacked peaceful protesters, and one ended up dead. Rioters threw firebombs and chunks of marble at the tens of thousands who had turned out in the Greek capital hours before lawmakers were scheduled to vote on the unpopular austerity measures creditors are demanding before releasing additional bailout funds to the struggling country. But initial reports suggest the 53-year-old who died may have had a heart attack rather than succumbing to violence, the AP reports. (More Greek debt crisis stories.)

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