Riots in Greece

Gangs of youths smashed their way through central Athens, Thessaloniki and other Green cities. They were torching stores, buildings and cars in the third day of mayhem after the fatal police shooting of a teenager. This was the country's worst rioting in decades. Dozens of shops, banks and even luxury hotels had their windows smashed and burned as youths fought running battles with riot police. Black smoke rose above the city center, mingling with clouds of tear gas.

This has threatened to topple the country's increasingly unpopular conservative government. Mounting calls for Prime Minister Costas Karamantis to resign are coming forth. Police fired tear gas on protesters following the funeral of 15 year old Alexandros Grigoropoulos, who was laid to rest in an Athens burial attended by about 6,000 people. Karamantis, age 52, has already faced growing dissatisfaction over financial and social reforms at a time of deep anxiety over growing economic gloom. The economy is not only affecting the United States but countries throughout the world.