Greek police hurl tear gas at protesting students

ATHENS, June 8 (Reuters) Greek riot police hurled tear gas at university students marching in central Athens today to protest proposed education system reforms.

Police in full riot gear fired several rounds of tear gas, pushing back the students, who threw stones and sticks, covering the Athens city centre in smoke.

Police said there were no immediate reports of injuries or arrests but eyewitnesses said several protesters were hurt in the scuffles and others taken away by riot police.

About 3,000 of students marched through the capital chanting ''Down with authoritarianism'' and ''No to the new law'' in a culmination of weeks-long protests and university building sit-ins across the country.

The draft law, which goes to parliament this summer, allows for the first time the creation of private universities in Greece and changes the way both students and educators are evaluated.

The centre-right government says the bill will bring a much needed upgrade to Greek education but students slam it as an attempt to end free higher education, which is guaranteed by the Greek constitution.

REUTERS KD PM2049