First arrests as Merkel arrives in Athens

Athens - The plane carrying German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived at Athens International airport 10 minutes ahead of schedule. As she met Greek ministers on the red carpet, police were already carrying out their first arrests in Athens city center.

Keep Talking Greece reported five squads of riot police rushed to prevent hospital personnel from Errikos Dynan hospital from protesting. Tear gas was used against the hospital employees that have not been paid for eight months. Draconian security measures have been implemented in the Greek capital in preparation for Merkel's visit. A steel fence has been erected around the Greek parliament building; frogmen are in the sewers; helicopters hover overhead and 7,000 riot police are on standby. Ekathimerini reported police have arrested 35 people that had gathered in a peaceful protest around Syntagma Square; all but two protest meetings have been banned by police authorities. Events can be followed livestream on Zougla TV (in Greek)