Greek students protest against education reforms

ATHENS, June 15 (Reuters) Protestors today smashed windows in central Athens during a student demonstration against proposed education reforms that brought the Greek capital to a halt for several hours.

Witnesses said several banks and shops had windows smashed, as well as offices of national carrier Olympic Airlines, in the aftermath of what had been a largely peaceful protest.

Thousands of students crossed the capital chanting anti-establishment slogans and waving banners saying ''Down with the law reform'' and ''It won't pass''. There were no immediate reports of injuries or arrests.

The demonstrations follow weeks of protests and sit-ins at university buildings throughout the country.

A similar protest a week ago resulted in 43 injuries and several arrests after riot police clashed with students. Police blamed those troubles on anarchists who infiltrated the march.

The new draft law, details of which are expected this month ahead of submission to parliament in the autumn, will allow the creation of private universities and will change the way both students and educators are assessed.

It will also likely cap the number of years students can spend at university, ending a system that sees some studying for a first degree for a decade or longer.

''The government is doing what it has to do,'' Education Minister Marietta Giannakou told reporters. ''I will issue a preliminary draft of the bill in June,'' she added.

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

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