A fresh protest rally and a student-teacher march to the Parliament Building ends with clashes between young protesters and the police in Central Athens Thursday afternoon.

Protesters shout slogans behind a burning van outside Athens' Law school during riots Dec. 18, 2008. A fresh protest rally and a student-teacher march to the Parliament Building ends with clashes between young protesters and the police in Central Athens Thursday afternoon. [Xinhuanet.com]

Just before the demonstration was concluded, groups of young protesters started throwing stones and fruits at riot police guarding the march. Soon after they were followed by hooded individuals who hurled firebombs, prompting police to use tear gas in order to disperse them.

The protesters were forced into retreat by police, who chased them through downtown Athens. Some of the protesters found refuge at the university building which the police are not allowed to enter without permission.

The Youth waving flags and tried to burn down the Christmas tree in Syntagma Square which was set there for the second time. The first Christmas tree was burned by protesters last week. The crowd was dispersed by police who fired teargas.

Another protest demonstration, which was organized by the secondary education student mobilizations' coordinating body against the government's policies on education in Omonia, ended peacefully.

In addition, primary and secondary school teachers have announced a three-hour working stoppage. Academics will also go on working stoppage for three hours.

The death of Alexandros Grigoropoulos, a 15-year-old schoolboy who was killed by the police in a clash on Dec. 6, has sparked a series of demonstrations and protests in Greece since then.