ATHENS -- President Clinton's trip to Greece triggered a violent anti-American riot by Greek leftists that heavily damaged central parts of Athens and marred a visit to what Clinton called a treasured U.S. ally.
In what appeared to be the most violent protest against Clinton since he took office in 1993, demonstrators rampaged through the main commercial area Friday night, leaving burned out banks, smashed shop fronts and piles of smoking debris.Protesters portrayed Clinton as the "Butcher of the Balkans" for his role in leading the NATO air war against Yugoslavia. Many Greeks also still resent that the United States supported a military junta that ruled the country from 1967 to 1974.
Riot police fired dozens of rounds of tear gas when demonstrators tried to push through their lines to march on the U.S. Embassy. Choking fumes drove demonstrators and bystanders alike rushing from the main square.
In the ensuing riot, at least 10 banks and 35 shops were damaged, some completely gutted. The Labor Ministry and central bank were both damaged. Fire engines extinguished blazes across the city.
Sporadic clashes continued into the night. Police said 16 people were rushed to hospital and 41 were arrested.
Clinton and the Greek government went on with the business of his 24-hour visit.
Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos hosted an elegant state dinner for Clinton and wife Hillary at the neoclassical presidential palace several blocks away from the center of the violence at Syndagma Square.
In his dinner toast, Clinton noted that Greece had stood with the United States in every conflict this century.
"As in all friendships, we have not always agreed, but we have never broken ranks because of our shared devotion to democracy and freedom," he said. "If some engage in passionate debate, it is well to remember how hard both our countries have fought for their right to do just that," Clinton said.
Clinton said on his arrival at the airport that he had come "as a 'philhellene' -- a friend of Greece." His motorcade route into town was eerily quiet, heavily guarded by police.
U.S. officials criticized the Greek government 10 days ago for not being able to guarantee the president's security, and delayed and shortened his trip.
Friday, the Greek officials swept Clinton's path around the city clear of the slightest hint of trouble.
"We simply wanted to make sure there were not security problems," Foreign Minister George Papandreou said.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Alex Rondos appeared before White House reporters at a downtown hotel to try to send a message that not all Greeks dislike America and noting that many of them have migrated there.
"Only good can come from a visit like this," Rondos said. "If a few want to turn their backs on the United States, they are a very, very distinct minority. Too bad some people choose hooliganism over civility."
Saturday, Clinton was to hold talks with both Stephanopoulos and Prime Minister Costas Simitis, hold a press conference with Simitis, and give a speech to Greek business leaders before heading on to Italy.
The U.S. president arrived in Athens after spending five days in Turkey, where he addressed the parliament in Ankara, visited earthquake victims and attended a summit of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Clinton, along with leaders of 29 other countries attending the Istanbul summit, signed an updated treaty on conventional force levels in Europe Friday, but said he would not submit it for ratification until Russia reduced troop levels in the North Caucasus region.
The violence in Athens threatened to drown out Clinton's message in favor of a reconciliation between Turkey and Greece and a political solution for the divided island of Cyprus, a fault line in the tensions between the two traditional rivals.
The protests were not confined to Athens. In the northern port city of Thessaloniki, which NATO used to supply Kosovo troops, about 2,500 anti-Clinton demonstrators stormed the port. They tore down a European Union flag and hoisted banners saying "Clinton get out" and "Killers go home."
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