VIDEO & AUDIO Violence erupted in Athens, Thessaloniki and several other Greek cities over the shooting of a youth which stoked anger over corruption scandals, a widening gap between rich and poor and economic problems exacerbated by the global financial crisis, sparking the worst riots in decades.
Slideshow: Greek riots
Sunday, December 7
A police officer points his weapon at demonstrators while the other pretends to shoot with his hand during a massive demonstration in Athens following the death of a 15-year old boy shot by a policeman on Saturday night.
Sunday, December 7
Protesters throw a chair and fire bombs at riot police during clashes in the northern port city of Thessaloniki. Youths in the country's second city taunted police with cries of "killers in uniform".
Sunday, December 7
A protester gestures at riot police in Athens. An appeal by the centre-right government for calm was ignored by demonstrators who jostled crews cleaning up after riots that followed the shooting of a 15-year-old boy.
Sunday, December 7
Riot police stand behind a burning car outside the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki during clashes with protesters.
Sunday, December 7
A policeman walks in front of a burnt building following riots in Athens. The violence spread from the student district of Exarcheia to a main shopping street in the city centre. A fashion store was set on fire and shops were looted.
Monday, December 8
A young man cries as he leaves the site where 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos was shot dead by police in Athens.
Monday, December 8
A riot police officer holds flowers given by students during a protest in central Athens. High school students blocked streets across the city while dozens of youths were still barricaded at two university campuses.
Monday, December 8
A girl is arrested by riot police outside the Aristotelio University in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki.
Monday, December 8
A bank branch damaged by anti-police violence in Athens. Youths looted stores, attacked hotels and clashed with the security forces close to the parliament building.
Monday, December 8
A man walks past a burning car during riots in Athens.
December, 2008
Costas Karamanlis, Greek prime minister, called an emergency cabinet meeting on Monday night amid escalating violence in central Athens with rioters setting fire to dozens of buildings around the parliament square.
Tuesday, December 9
Police confront protesters outside the Greek parliament building in Athens on Tuesday as the opposition calls for the government’s resignation
Tuesday, December 9
A man stands in front of riot police during a demonstration outside the parliament building.
Tuesday, December 9
A protester tries to escape arrest during the clashes.
Police surround the parliament building, which is beseiged by thousands of teachers and students
Protesters throw stones and debris, prompting police to respond with teargas
Hundreds attend the funeral of Alexandros Grigoropoulos, the 15-year-old boy shot dead by police at the weekend
Protesters hold a "silent" candlelight vigil in front of lines of riot police guarding the parliament.
