I know it might be besides the point, but Athens is by far the most beautiful city in Europe. I have lived there for most of my life and have only come to appreciate its beauty after 4 years of living in London and Paris.
True it might be chaotic at times, but that is exactly what makes it so beautiful... And if blair and Aznar don't like it that way they might as well stay home, because they are obviously not wanted here.
There is no doupt people are going on the streets whether they are "allowed" or not. And i have to say i am not quite sure of whether or not taking such actions (not allowing the public, in public spaces) is really constitutionally endorsed. But states obviously don't seem to care much about the constitution lately.

an Athenian...

Greek riot police have fired tear gas at protesters in violent clashes close to a key European Union summit in Athens.

Reporters said some of the demonstrators threw petrol bombs and red paint at police, after breaking away from a large anti-war protest.

At the summit, all 15 EU states and the 10 new members formally signed a treaty setting in stone the EU's historic eastward expansion.

The 10 newcomers will formally join in May 2004.

But the summit has been overshadowed by the EU's bitter splits over Iraq, which have divided leaders as well as sparking public anger.

The clashes happened in Athens' Syntagma Square, only 300 metres (yards) from the hall where leaders have been meeting.

Reports said a bank had also been set on fire, shop windows smashed, and petrol bombs and other missiles thrown at the UK and Italian embassies.

"There is smoke from Molotov cocktails and tear gas billowing in the air," said Reuters reporter Karolos Grohmann, who witnessed the clashes.

Dozens of protesters were said to have occupied the Athens offices of British Airways, where they erected a large banner reading "Killers, imperialists".

Ten thousand police officers are believed to be involved in the security operation at the summit.

On his way to Athens, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair visited the German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder - one of Europe's most committed war opponents - in what was seen as a bridge-building mission.

Most EU leaders are thought to be keen to move on from their bitter pre-war splits, and at least agree on how to run and rebuild Iraq after the conflict.

Crucially, they will have to agree on what role the UN should have.

United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, also attending the two-day summit, will consult key members of the UN Security Council on their views on a future role for the UN in Iraq.

The last few months have shown just how difficult it will be to turn rhetoric about a unified Europe and a common foreign policy into reality, says BBC Europe correspondent Chris Morris.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has called on his European allies to put their differences over the war in Iraq behind them and concentrate instead on finding agreement over the best way to reconstruct the country.

Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, also urged European leaders to find some ground for unity.

"We must do everything... to reinforce the transatlantic dialogue and avoid any worsening of relations between Europe and the United States," he said on Tuesday.

"In the long term, nobody can govern the world alone."

But there are still strong disagreements over how Iraq should be reconstructed, both economically and politically.

French President Jacques Chirac and Mr Schroeder have both made clear they expect the UN to play a high-profile, central role, covering humanitarian assistance as well as offering some form of political input.

But the United States, which led the military intervention in Iraq, believes it should decide largely how any post-conflict administration is shaped.

While Mr Blair is closely allied to the United States on Iraq policy, he is known to be more enthusiastic than many in Washington about a wider role for the UN.

TO THE ATHENIAN:
I 've been living in Athens for 4 years and it is the most chaotic,ugly and inhuman city in Europe.Just consider the zero access it has for disabled people as well as all the grey blocks of flats and the moody people.I know we all feel a little pride for our home towns but sometimes you have to face reality .However i respect your opinion and cannot argue any further.We just happen to have different views..we can't convince each other otherwise..
The issue isn't Athens ... we should focus on what happened in Athens today and all these people who raised their voice against all those european hypocrites..

file Athenian mhpws eisai apo kolwnaki h' Khfisia kai 8ewreis omorfo ton mikrokosmo sou???
Wraia briskoun thn A8hna osoi exoun lefta gia na xodeuoun,na bgainoun kai na katanalwnoun.Mono etsi pernaei eyxarista h wra sthn A8hna.Ase thn psorohperhfaneia ths A8hnas sou kai des gyrw sou!Akougesai san ton Shmith pou ta blepei ola wraia mesa sto diamerisma tou!!
prin me briseis skepsou ola osa sou eipa...

agapite dust. Arnoume na prospathiso na katalavo giati theoris pos vasiki proipothesi gia na aresi se kapion i athina ine na meni sto kolonaki, i sto psyhiko, i na ehi lefta na katanaloni kai na bgeni. Prepi na ise telika arketa distihismenos anthropos an den mporis na dis tin omorfia MIAS polis, ohi gia ayta poy mpori na sou prosferei, alla gia ayto poy pragmatika ine.
Oute sto kolonaki meno, oute sto psyhiko, oute se kapia alli astikokratoumeni periohi. Ayto omos den me stamatise pote na do tin ekpliktiki omorfia aytis tis polis.
Esi tora, adi na kathisis ke na skeftis pios tha ine o epomenos politikos me ton opio tha me paromiasis, prospathise kalitera na katalavis ti enoousa otan elega oti i athina ine i pio omorfi poli tis Europis ke pou xeris mpori telika na simfonisis ke esi.