Greek protesters clash with police in nationwide strike

Protesters clash with riot police near the Greek parliament in Athens during a nationwide strike in Greece, May 5, 2010. Greek protesters clashed on Wednesday with police as unions of public and private sector employees called a 24-hour nationwide strike in protest of harsh austerity measures. (Reuters Photo)

A protester and riot police face off near the Greek parliament in Athens during a nationwide strike in Greece, May 5, 2010. Greek protesters clashed on Wednesday with police as unions of public and private sector employees called a 24-hour nationwide strike in protest of harsh austerity measures. (Reuters Photo)

Protesters clash with riot police near the Greek parliament in Athens during a nationwide strike in Greece, May 5, 2010. Greek protesters clashed on Wednesday with police as unions of public and private sector employees called a 24-hour nationwide strike in protest of harsh austerity measures. (Reuters Photo)

Protesters clash with riot police near the Greek parliament in Athens during a nationwide strike in Greece, May 5, 2010. Greek protesters clashed on Wednesday with police as unions of public and private sector employees called a 24-hour nationwide strike in protest of harsh austerity measures. (Reuters Photo)

ATHENS, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Greek protesters clashed on Wednesday with police as unions of public and private sector employees called a 24-hour nationwide strike in protest of harsh austerity measures.

Tens of thousands protesters gathered in the centre of Athens and other major cities across the country to denounce government policies implemented over the past days and months in exchange for a 110-billion-euro (149-billion-U.S.-dollar) rescue package by the EU and IMF.