New clashes in Egypt
In the morning, Cairo's central Tahrir Square was covered with stones and pieces of broken glass following clashes between demonstrators and police late on Tuesday.
The clashes took place outside the Interior Ministry where families of some of the more than 840 people killed in the uprising that led to Hosni Mubarak's overthrow in February had gathered to honour those killed.
Police officers in riot gear and with shields blocked protesters from marching towards the ministry.
The turmoil started after a group of people had been stopped from joining the event at a theatre to honour the "martyrs," as those killed in the uprising are called, and had tried to barge their way in, prompting the police to intervene, Agence France-Presse reports.
The group headed for the building of state television where they were joined by thousands of demonstrators. Police reportedly fired teargas at several hundred Egyptian youths, some of whom threw stones and demanded that trials of former senior officials proceed more swiftly.
It was the first such violence in weeks in Tahrir Square, the centre of the revolt that led to Mubarak being toppled.
Police clash with protesters in Athens
Greek police and anti-austerity protesters faced off in a tense duel on Tuesday that quickly escalated into full blown clashes as angry workers were teargassed seeking to pierce unprecedented defences.
A group of protesters sought to break through a police chain around parliament where legislators were discussing the financial situation in the country, reports Ria Novosti. They were immediately stopped by police.
No reports are available about detainees.
The 48-hour general strike will continue across the country on June 29.
