Greek government pledges full investigation of protester’s critical head injuries

<p>ATHENS, Greece – Greek left-wing groups and unions are planning a new protest Thursday amid heated condemnations of alleged police brutality after a protester was critically injured at an anti-austerity march in central Athens.</p> <p>The 31-year-old underwent brain surgery and doctors said his condition remains life-threatening.</p> <p>On Thursday, a group of youths occupied the central Athens University building from where the protest is due to start, replacing the Greek flag with an anarchist banner. A large banner underneath read: “Murderers.”</p> <p>”The government bears full responsibility for the brutal and unprovoked homicidal attack,” the Synaspismos left-wing coalition said.</p> <p>Greek authorities have often been accused of using heavy-handed tactics against protesters or immigrants. The fatal police shooting of a teenager in Athens in 2008 provoked two weeks of rioting that injured more than 200 people and left hundreds of shops damaged.</p> <p>The government has expressed sorrow at Wednesday’s incident – on the day of a general nationwide strike – and promised a full investigation.</p> <p>Police spokesman Athanassios Kokalakis conceded that some officers “display an exaggerated response, and they will be identified and dealt with.”</p> <p>The clashes between petrol bomb and stone-throwing anarchists and riot police broke out in the midst of an otherwise peaceful march by some 20,000 people protesting the Socialist government’s painful austerity measures.</p> <p>”After each demonstration, we see the same situation every time – organized and violent gangs who take advantage of those who are exercising their right to demonstrate,” Kokalakis told state-run TV.</p> <p>Police also announced the suspension of four policemen pending an investigation, after a video was posted online showing riot police clubbing and kicking another fallen protester.</p> <p>At least 24 other civilians and 15 police were injured, while 12 suspected rioters were arrested.</p> <p>Protesters and left-wing parties accused the police of using excessive force, including clubbing some protesters with reversed truncheons – hitting them with the metal grips instead of the rubber ends.</p> <p>Greece barely dodged bankruptcy last year, but remains in the grip of a major financial crisis and the government is soon due to unveil new cutbacks aimed at saving an estimated €23 billion ($33 billion) through 2015.</p> <p>Labour unions have joined many economic experts in questioning the effectiveness of more austerity at a time when the economy badly needs growth – or possibly a debt restructuring – to emerge from its debt hole.</p>