Thousands protest teen's shooting in Greece

Thousands of protesters demonstrated in Athens, Thessaloniki and other Greek cities against police violence, a day after a Roma youth was shot in the head in a police pursuit.

The demonstrations were part of planned annual commemorations to mark the 2008 death of Alexandros Grigoropoulos, a 15-year-old fatally shot by police.

His death shocked the nation and sparked days of youth riots in major cities at the time.

Police estimated more than 11,000 protesters turned out across the country.

Around 4,000 police were deployed in Athens with tensions running high after shooting.

A police motorcyclist in Greece's second city Thessaloniki shot a 16-year-old Roma boy after he drove away from a petrol station without paying.

The teenager was hospitalised and in a critical condition, according to media reports.

Some of the most violent protests were in Thessaloniki, where police fired tear gas after protesters set fire to rubbish bins and threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at riot police.

Some 6,500 rallied in Athens where a banner referenced the unpaid 20-euro petrol bill, saying "A life is worth 20 euros".

A police officer has been arrested and charged with attempted manslaughter over the incident.

The Greek police department said the youth had tried to ram officers in pursuit on motorbikes in his attempt to evade arrest.

Roma protesters set roadblocks ablaze, threw Molotov cocktails at riot police and smashed shop windows in the centre of Thessaloniki.