Three killed as deadly riots engulf Athens

Two women and one man died and firefighters were looking for other victims

• Riot police try to escape from a molotov fire in central Athens, Wednesday, May 5, 2010. Greek fire officials say three people have died in a blaze that broke out at an Athens bank during rioting over government austerity measures. An estimated 100,000 people took to the streets Wednesday during a nationwide wave of strikes against spending cuts aimed at saving the country from bankrupty.

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Athens: Three people were killed in a firebomb attack on a bank in central Athens on Wednesday and around 20 people were being evacuated from the building, police said.

Two women and one man died and firefighters were looking for other victims although the fire appeared to be under control, a spokesman for firemen told reporters.

The bank caught fire after hooded youths hurled petrol bombs at it on the sidelines of demonstrations in central Athens against a government austerity drive.

An estimated 100,000 people took to the streets Wednesday during a nationwide wave of strikes against spending cuts aimed at saving the country from bankrupty.

Protesters were hurling Molotov cocktails at police and buildings. At least two buildings were on fire, while hundreds of people were involved in the clashes.

The government agreed to drastic budget cuts to win bailout loans from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.