Public workers stage strike as violence continues in Greece

For a fifth day running, hundreds of demonstrators have clashed with police in Greece as public sector workers stage a one-day strike to protest the government’s economic policies. Flights in and out of Athens airport have been canceled and public transport is badly disrupted. In the latest street battles, protesters in central Athens hurled petrol bombs at the police, who fired tear-gas.

But a BBC correspondent in Athens says the violence does seem to be dying down.

The unrest was initially sparked by the fatal shooting of a teenager by police on Saturday. The trade unions, which called the strike weeks ago, rejected an appeal by the prime minister, Costas Karamanlis, to cancel their rally.

Joining us now is Sarah Rainsford, BBC Correspondent.