| Posted on the off-chance that Europe still matters ... |
ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Greek protesters toppled a statue of President Truman and clashed with police during demonstrations Tuesday against the fighting in Lebanon.
The ruckus began after 2,000 demonstrators, backed by Greece's largest trade unions and local anti-globalization groups, marched to the Israeli Embassy and also smashed nearby bank and storefront windows. Several dozen youths broke away from the rally to confront riot police who had ringed the embassy. Police fire tear gas into the crowd and detained seven people. No one was injured.
Demonstrators gathered earlier outside the U.S. Embassy and used a power saw and ropes to bring down the Truman statue. It wasn't immediately clear why the protesters focused on the Truman statue but it has been targeted several times in past protests.
| Um, because they hate us? |
Protest organizer Yiannis Sifakakis said many Greeks felt Israel was using excessive force in its confrontation with Hezbollah guerrillas. "The only thing that can stop the bombings is the mobilization of ordinary people in the West and in the Arab world," he said.
| Self-validating performance art. |
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