Police fired tear gas during a mass rally in Athens on 4 February, as Greeks rallied against government pension reforms needed to meet demands of international creditors. Demanding an end to austerity, about 50,000 Greeks marched on parliament in central Athens.

Some protesters broke away from the main block of demonstrators and threw stones and petrol bombs at police, who in turn responded with rounds of tear gas and stun grenades. The angry backlash is piling pressure on Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who was first elected just over a year ago.

With just a three-seat majority in parliament, he is faced with the decision to push the reforms through to appease international creditors, which will attract the wrath of thousands of Greeks. Dozens of domestic flights were grounded, ferries remained docked in ports and most public transport was paralysed as part of the strike organised by Greece's main labour unions the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) and the Civil Servants' Confederation (ADEDY) took hold.

It was the second nationwide walkout since Tsipras took power in January 2015 on a pledge to end years of austerity.

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