Greek strike may fuel riots

GREEK air traffic controllers’ are joining the country’s unions in a general strike today. State-owned, but soon to be privatised, Olympic Airlines and rival Aegean Airlines have cancelled all of their flights in and out of Greek airports. All other flights, apart from emergencies, will be grounded.

There are fears that the strike, which will cause widespread disruption, will only exacerbate the civil unrest already tearing up the country. The controllers are striking over pension reforms and the government’s highly unpopular economic policies while the civil unrest is because police shot and killed a 15-year-old boy last Saturday. Riots have been flaring up all over the country this week in protest while an investigation proceeds.