Thousands of protesters clashed with riot police in Greece today during a day-long nationwide general strike to protest the latest round of tough austerity measures planned by the country's government to unlock much-needed EU-IMF funding. 

In Athens, youths threw Molotov cocktails at riot police who responded with tear gas. 

The trade union-led action against the planned spending cuts of more than 11.5 billion euros ($15 billion) brought public transport and other services to a standstill. 

Without the savings, Greece will not be eligible for the bailout funds from the so-called troika of the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund and could face bankruptcy within weeks.