Greece clashes continue overnight

Athens - Rioting youths in the Greek capital attacked a police station, stores and banks and fought running battles with police late Saturday, authorities said, as violent protests against a police killing continued for the eighth straight day. The clashes broke early Sunday as candlelit vigils were being held to mark a week since the police shot a 15-year-old boy, which triggered the riots that are threatening the stability of the government.

At 1 a.m. local time (2300 GMT) police suddenly charged a peaceful candlelight vigil in Syntagma Square, in central Athens, when the crowd of several hundred people refused to back off its position near Parliament. The protesters retreated but the tense confrontation continued.

Youths, some on foot, others riding motorcycles, attacked police stations and stores in central Athens as well as a government building, police said.

Several hundred protesters set up burning barricades and attacked police with rocks and flares. Riot police fired tear gas and chased the youths through parts of the city. The protesters chanted “murderers out” and used laser pointers to target police for attack.

Violence has wracked Greece every day since the death of teenager Alexandros Grigoropoulos. The riots in cities throughout the country have left at least 70 people injured.

Hundreds of stores have been smashed and looted, and more than 200 people have been arrested.

While most of the protesters have been peaceful, the tone of the demonstrations has been set by a violent fringe. And more young people have been willing to join those fringe elements than in the past.

Hundreds of school children holding candles gathered peacefully on Saturday outside parliament and at the site where the teenager was shot. At the latter site, hundreds of masked self-styled anarchists gathered among the largely peaceful crowd and, on leaving, clashed with riot police which, in turn, used copious amounts of tear gas to clear the area. Some of the rioters entered the National Technical University nearby from which they pelted police with rocks and flares. Outside the parliament, they left candles spelling out the name “Alex” in front of a line of riot policemen.

The young protesters promised to remain on the streets until their concerns, including opposition to increasingly unpopular government and worry over economic issues, are addressed.

The two officers involved in the boy's shooting have been arrested. One was charged with murder and the other as an accomplice. The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unclear.