Greek Farmers Battle Cops During Protest

Baku, February 14 (AZERTAC). Protesting Greek farmers, who have placed tractors at key intersections on roads across the country and threatened to block them, clashed with police on the Athens-Lamia national highway in Anthili on Feb. 13, who used tear gas to break up the battle. Two police officers and four farmers were slightly injured, SKAI TV reported. The farmers are holding daily one-hour rallies to protest government policies, including a decision to increase taxes in the farming sector and a demand they get a bigger share of Value Added Tax (VAT) refunds. Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, who used riot police to break up strikes by Metro workers and seamen, has been more lenient with the farmers, offering them a package of concessions including some tax breaks, but they said they will not stop demonstrating until they get everything they want. Greek television showed images of farmers and police fighting with each other. The farmers have rejected the government’s offer and have not stopped protesting and threatened to expand their actions to shut down major roads unless the government gives in.