European Finance - Tear gas fired as protesters, some in Nazi regalia, voice anger at Merkel visit /

(23 Nov 2012) Greece - Tear gas fired as protesters, some in Nazi regalia, voice anger at Merkel visit Story No.: 862102 AP TELEVISION Athens - 9 Oct 2012 1. Mid of riot police outside of Foreign Ministry fielding cement blocks with shields 2. Mid of protesters jumping up at barricade, throwing things at it, pan to police on other side of barricade 3. Close of policeman with mask covered in green paint 4. Mid of men in Nazi uniforms carrying swastika flag saluting from a jeep inside a crowded protest 5. Close of placard depicting a Greek folk figure kicking Merkel Clashes in Spain, Italy and Greece as protesters take to streets during general strike Story No.: 866971 AP TELEVISION Madrid/Rome - 14 Nov 2012 Rome, Italy 6. Wide of protest scene, riot police arresting and dragging away protesters, fire explosive device going off, UPSOUND: siren Madrid, Spain 7. Various of police beating protesters, making arrests Voters in Catalan region prepare for vote that could lead to independence from Spain Story No.: 868238 AP TELEVISION Vic - 22 November, 2012 8. Pan across town square 9. Catalan pro-independence flags 10. Wide of building with banner (Catalan) "Catalonia, new European state" Barcelona - 23 November, 2012 11. CiU (nationalist 'Convergence and Union' party) closing campaign rally with Artur Mas, presidential candidate and former president of Catalonia 12. Wide, rally closing finale STORYLINE: On October 9th 2012 there were clashes on the streets of Athens as riot police confronted demonstrators protesting against austerity measures during a visit by the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel. Paying her first visit to Greece in five years, Merkel's arrival triggered protests attended by some 50-thousand demonstrators in Athens. Dozens of young people threw rocks and flares at riot police, who responded with pepper spray and stun grenades. The clashes were relatively minor but police detained more than 50 people throughout the day. The young people had broken away from a larger, peaceful rally where protesters mocked the German Chancellor and some referenced Nazi symbols. The protesters view Merkel's visit as a sign that there are more austerity measure and further economic hardship on the way. The demonstrators included a group of special forces reservists, in uniform, who chanted "Merkel out of Greece" in time to their march. Many faces from Greece's recent political life were spotted in the throng, such as Alex Tsipras, whose anti-bailout Syriza party showed well in the recent elections, and Communist Party chief Aleka Papariga. Greece has depended on bailouts from Europe and the International Monetary Fund since May 2010. To qualify for the loans, the Greek government has implemented a series of deep budget cuts and tax hikes, while increasing retirement ages and facilitating private sector layoffs. *** On November 14th hundreds of thousands of Europe's beleaguered citizens went on strike or snarled the streets of several capitals, at times clashing with riot police, as they demanded that governments stop cutting benefits and create more jobs. In the Italian capital Rome, thousands of students and workers took the streets, some of them clashing with riot police, who responded with tear gas. Protests turned violent in other Italian cities too. Dozens of demonstrators were detained and a handful of police were injured, according to Italian news reports. Frustration spilled into violence also in Madrid and other cities in Spain where riot police clashed with demonstrators. *** Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...