A massive anti-austerity general strike that has shut down Greece turned violent Wednesday as protesters clashed with police, hurling firebombs and stones at officers while others looted stores, according to reports. 

Youths riot in Greece (Khalid Khan, via Twitpic)

Anywhere between 70,000 and 125,000 protesters took to the streets to demonstrate against new austerity measures that will be voted on Thursday. The austerity measures include tax increases, pay cuts and public sector layoffs. The violence sparked outside the parliament building in central Athens.

Police fired tear gas into the crowds to try to control the protesters. Police told the Associated Press that 14 officers had been hospitalized.

The world has been watching as Greece teeters on the brink of default on its crushing sovereign debt. The eurozone has attempted to prevent a default, which could result in a worldwide economic calamity, with a series of bailout measures coupled with demands that Greece reduce its debt burden through massive budget cuts and tax hikes, all of which have been met with fierce resistance from the Greek people.

A crucial eurozone meeting is planned for the weekend, in which leaders will hammer out the details of how the bring the Greek debt crisis to a close. French and German leaders are still undecided over whether the private sector will be required to contribute more to the bailout package, according to the Wall Street Journal.

From Al-Jazeera:

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