ATHENS (Reuters) - Fewer Greeks took part in May Day rallies against austerity on Sunday compared to previous years, and labour unions say a planned strike later in the month will better reflect public discontent over belt-tightening.
Cuts in public sector pay and pensions along with higher indirect taxes to slash deficits have exacerbated the economic downturn as Athens scrambles to cope with a debt crisis and meet tough fiscal targets under a 110 billion euro EU/IMF bailout.
Police said it was the lowest turnout in the last years with about 5,000 people demonstrating peacefully in central Athens but labour unions said participation was higher around 12,000.
"Today there was mostly a symbolic rally to honour those who fought for workers' rights. We are calling on people to take to the streets on May 11 to say no to policies that are making us poorer," Ilias Iliopoulos, general-secretary of public sector union ADEDY told Reuters.
With unemployment climbing to a record high of 15.1 percent in January, ADEDY and sister private sector union GSEE are set for a 24-hour strike on May 11, the second this year, to protest against government policies that squeeze incomes.
After the rallies there were minor scuffles between police and a small group of self-proclaimed anarchists in the bohemian district of Exarhia in central Athens.
(Reporting by George Georgiopoulos and Renee Maltezou;)
