Yahoo Finance Greek Police Fire Flash Bombs At Protesters
Greek police have fired flash bombs and clashed with protesters in Athens two days before a key bailout referendum.
The scuffles in Athens' main Syntagma square took place as thousands were gathering for a rally in support of a "no" vote in the referendum.
A rival demonstration of "yes" supporters was due to take place at the nearby Panathenian Stadium.
The clashes involved a few dozen people, many dressed in black and wearing helmets. They appeared to calm down quickly, but the twin public meetings, staged just 800 metres apart, raised fears of potential trouble.
The referendum centres on whether Greeks are willing to accept creditors' proposals for further austerity in exchange for more loans.
The latest polls suggest the two sides - the "yes" camp in favour of accepting the creditors' terms and the "no" camp opposed to more austerity - are neck and neck in the vote.
The terms have been rejected by the Greek government - elected on an anti-austerity platform - over protracted negotiations with European and international creditors.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has asked Greeks to stand firm against "blackmail, ultimatums and fear". He was due to speak at the "no" rally later.
In a rare move, 16 former armed forces leaders of Greece have signed a joint declaration calling on the Greek people to show "calm and national unity" ahead of the vote.
The letter said "Greece is at a highly critical moment in its history that will require difficult and inevitably painful decisions
"All Greeks, united and above party political lines and divisions, must help with all means available to address this situation with calm and national unity."
Leaders of eurozone nations have said a win for "no" would be a vote against Greece remaining in the eurozone while Mr Tsipras believes it would actually strengthen his negotiating hand.
Sky (Other OTC: BSYBF - news) sources say a "yes" win would be expected to result in the resignation of the Syriza-led government and the formation of a national unity government.
It would be likely to make a quick rescue deal to prevent the prospect of a banking system collapse and exit from the single currency.
The head of the country's banking association said that Greek banks have a "liquidity cushion" of €1bn - but funds beyond Monday depend on the European Central Bank.
"Liquidity is assured until Monday, thereafter it will depend on the ECB decision," Louka Katseli said.
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