Greek protesters march against mining projects

[November 26, 2012]  THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) -- About 3,000 protesters have marched in the northern Greek city in protest against what they claim are environment-threatening gold mining projects.

Riot police barred the protesters' intended route to the Canadian Consulate on Saturday, but no incidents were reported.

Canadian company Eldorado Gold Corp. is involved in four gold mining projects, all in northern Greece. Three of them are at the planning stage. The fourth, and biggest, in the Halkidiki peninsula, had been pursued a decade ago by another Canadian company, TVX, but was canceled.

Opponents of the projects include owners of houses rented to tourists, environmentalists and leftist activists opposed to any foreign investment. Local communities have been bitterly divided, with many residents hoping to benefit from the more than 1,000 jobs that the investors say would be created.

[Associated Press]

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