Greek farmers clash with police in tax protest

Greek farmers protesting higher taxes clashed with riot police firing tear gas in Athens on Wednesday, an AFP journalist said. Two people were detained after the windows of two police vans were smashed, a police source told AFP. Around 1,000 farmers, mainly from the island of Crete, took part in the protest. The clashes broke out in front of the agriculture ministry after officials declined to meet with a farmers' delegation, according to reports.
Television footage showed groups of farmers throwing stones at police and striking the vans blocking access to the ministry with wooden shepherds' crooks. Police responded with tear gas. The farmers are demanding the withdrawal of higher taxes and social insurance contributions, which they say are threatening their livelihoods. Greece has been forced to increase taxes and slash pensions over the last seven years under pressure from international creditors who bailed out the country from near bankruptcy in 2010.