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10/21/11 (AEIN) Huge demonstrations occurred in several cities of Greece on Thursday to protest austerity measures. A demonstration in Athens turned violent after hooded thugs attacked members of a Communist union, according to the official news agency.
To protect them from attackers, the unionists created a "human chain" around peaceful protesters near the parliament building. Dimitris Katsaridis, the secretary of a construction workers' union, died of a heart attack as the violence went on.
The Athens News newspaper reported that the hooded thugs used petrol bombs, sticks and rocks to attack the unionists and caused at least seventy injuries. The use of tear gas may have contributed to the local union secretary's death.
The protests come at a time when the Greek parliament continues to pass additional austerity measures, many workers have gone on strike and new statistics show that unemployment went up again during the month of September.