Greece greets Merkel with protests

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Germany's Angela Merkel arrived in Greece on Tuesday on her first visit since Europe's debt crisis erupted three years ago, braving protests to deliver a message of support - but no new money - to a nation hammered by recession and fighting to stay in the euro.

Thousands of Greeks defied a ban on protests, gathering in Syntagma square in central Athens as Merkel's plane touched down. Many blame her for forcing painful reforms on Greece in exchange for two EU-IMF bailout packages totalling over 200 billion euros.

Outside one hospital doctors, nurses and hospital staff protesting against health cuts tried to block the street where Merkel's motorcade was to pass towards the Prime Minister's office. Police held back the protesters from blocking the road. The protesters shouted and booed, then staged a sit in on the ground, after police fought them back with their shields.