ATHENS, Greece - June 28, 2011 - Greek police clashed with groups of hooded youths in central Athens on Tuesday at the start of two days of strikes and protests against cuts demanded by international lenders as the price for more financial aid.

As Greece teeters on the edge of bankruptcy, Parliament is due to vote this week on a package of spending cuts, tax increases and privatizations agreed to as part of a massive bailout aimed at averting the euro zone’s first default.

Labor unions called a 48-hour strike to protest against the measures and more than 5,000 police were deployed to the center of the capital to deal with expected trouble as a crowd officials estimated at some 20,000 rallied in Syntagma Square, in front of the Parliament building.

The rally was initially peaceful but by early afternoon, smaller groups of youths numbering in the hundreds hurled rock chipped off buildings in the square at riot police, who responded with tear gas.

Three police officers were injured by flying stones and one person was stabbed during fights between rival groups of young demonstrators. Police also said three people were treated for breathing difficulties.

Protesters set fire to a communications truck equipped with a mobile telecoms transmitter which they had apparently mistaken for a TV truck and sprayed with slogans attacking media and banks.