Silent protest in Athens over recent fires

August 30, 2007 Thousands of Greeks gathered last night in Syntagma square in front of the parliament building in Athens to protest over the political response to the fires.

An estimated 8,000 people attended, after a call for a silent protest had been distributed through e-mail, text messages and eventually the media.

Although general elections are taking place in two and a half weeks time, the protest was meant to be apolitical. Some protesters taunted riot police, who responded with stun grenades.