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ATHENS - Dressed in mourning black, thousands of Greeks have protested against the political response to forest fires that killed 63 people and devastated forests and villages.
Mothers pushing prams and fathers holding children on their shoulders joined teenagers with skateboards and retirees in a silent rally that filled the central Athens Syndagma square in front of parliament with an estimated 8000 people.
"I am annoyed by the apathy and hypocrisy of politicians," said Apostolis Giannakidis, 24, a computer engineer. "I am angry that we allowed this tragedy to happen."
The unprecedented forest fires, which began to recede on Wednesday, have left thousands homeless, destroyed whole villages and turned large swathes of forest to ashes.
The conservative government has been accused of incompetence in dealing with the crisis but the socialists opposition appeared unable to capitalise on the criticism ahead of September 16 parliamentary elections.
Opinion polls show both the ruling party and the socialist opposition losing support due to the fires, with smaller parties gaining.
"I hope this will affect how people vote in the election. It has certainly changed the way I will cast my ballot - it won't be for either of the two major parties," said Irini Panagopoulou, 28, a sales executive.
The ruling New Democracy party swept to power in 2004, ending 11 straight years of socialist rule. The two parties have ruled Greece since the country's return to democracy in 1974.
The government has said the fires were "not a coincidence" and offered up to one 1 million euros ($1.97 million) reward for help tracking down arsonists.
Many Greeks believe rogue land developers are responsible for burning forests to make way for new construction, taking advantage of the lack of a land registry and clear zoning laws.
"The cement and profits are theirs, the deaths are ours," read one poster at the rally, which was organised by citizens' groups and bloggers.
Protestors said they were angry at the government for not taking preventive measures and letting state mechanisms fall apart.
"Our message to the politicians is clear: they must change they way they behave," said Dimitris Mavridakis, 80.
- REUTERS
