Greece: Riot police forced to guard Christmas tree

Anarchists.

Protesters attacked a city-sponsored Christmas tree in central Athens today tossing rubbish and hanging plastic bags from its branches before clashing with riot police.

The riot police were stationed around the huge tree to protect it and were still surrounding it as night fell.

The crowd of about 150 clashed with dozens of police shortly after 4pm after throwing rubbish at the tree in Athens' central Syntagma Square.