Violence erupts as Greece strike begins - in pictures

A boy plays an accordion in front of a closed shop in Athens as Greek unions launched a two-day general strike in an all-out effort to block an austerity bill that parliament must pass this week to forestall a state bankruptcy Photograph: Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images

Tourists check departure boards during a 12-hour work stoppage by air traffic controllers at Athens international airport Photograph: Thanassis Stavrakis/AP

A woman covers her nose as she walks by a wall of piled-up rubbish during the second week of a strike by municipality workers and rubbish collectors in Athens Photograph: Yannis Behrakis/Reuters

A woman passes a pile of rotting, uncollected rubbish in a street in Athens Photograph: Petros Giannakouris/AP

A masked demonstrator stands in front of the Greek parliament Photograph: Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP/Getty Images

People walk past parliament during an anti-austerity rally in Syntagma square Photograph: Yannis Behrakis/Reuters

A woman shouts slogans at the Syntagma square rally Photograph: Yiorgos Karahalis/Reuters

Protesters burn a guard box in front of the Greek parliament Photograph: Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images

A man gestures at a line of policemen Photograph: Orestis Panagiotou/EPA

Protesters throw petrol bombs at riot police in front of the Greek parliament Photograph: Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images

A masked man walks past a recycling kiosk set on fire by protesters Photograph: Lefteris Pitarakis/AP

A riot policeman holds a protester outside the parliament building Photograph: Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images

A masked youth throws a petrol during riots that followed a peaceful march on the first day of a 48-hour strike by workers' unions in Athens Photograph: Yannis Behrakis/Reuters

Protesters throw Molotov cocktails towards riot police officers guarding the Greek parliament building Photograph: Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP/Getty Images

A riot police officer sprays teargas in Syntagma square, Athens Photograph: Yannis Behrakis/Reuters

A demonstrator faces a cordon of police Photograph: Milos Bicanski/Getty Images

Police line up as smoke rises during protests in Athens Photograph: Panagiotis Tzamaros/AFP/Getty Images

A protester wearing a gas mask stands next to a burning bus ticket kiosk Photograph: Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP/Getty Images

Protesters throw stones at Greek police officers during clashes in central Athens Photograph: Lefteris Pitarakis/AP

A man walks past a burning building as the demonstrations escalate Photograph: Milos Bicanski/Getty Images