Greece: Doctors rally against cuts

Striking doctors scuffled with police outside Greece's parliament yesterday, as anti-austerity protests in Greece spread to professional groups and struggling retailers.

More than 1,000 doctors, some in white coats, staged the central Athens protest against plans to impose tougher monitoring rules for spending in the national health service.

-Police used a small amount of pepper spray during the brief scuffles, which ended without any injuries or arrests.

The country's largest labour unions plan a general strike on 23 February, and announced yesterday that retailers would also join the protest and close for 24 hours. The Greek Confederation of Professionals, Craftsmen and Merchants said one in four of its small business members - or 225,000 enterprises - face the threat of closure in 2011.