Athens- Hundreds of demonstrators clashed Friday with police in front of the Greek parliament in central Athens, with protesters hurling firebombs and riot police retaliating with teargas.

The clashes came as 5,000 students marched in further anti- government protests in Athens and thousands more across Greece to protest government education reforms and well as Israeli attacks in Gaza.

Rallies by students and teachers also took place in the western port city of Patras and the northern port city of Thessaloniki.

The latest outbreak of violence between demonstrators and police follows riots in December which left hundreds of stores and bank branches across Greece damaged or destroyed. They were triggered by the December 6 killing of a teenager by police.

The unrest has shaken the conservative government, which has a one- seat majority and trails in opinion polls. Conservative Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis reshuffled his cabinet earlier this week and promised a zero tolerance approach to crime. (dpa)