Protesting Greek pensioners barge into ministry

[September 04, 2012]  ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Protesting pensioners pushed their way into the Health Ministry, during a rally against healthcare cuts in crisis-hit Greece.

The central Athens protest on Tuesday was organized by a Communist-backed labor union and ended peacefully.

About 200 pensioners took part in the rally, and pushed past police lines to enter the building and occupy the lobby for about 20 minutes.

Private doctors and pharmacists this week refused to accept credit from Greece's largest state-run health care provider, EOPYY, arguing that the government has allowed debts to accumulate, leaving them unpaid for months.

[Associated Press]

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