Merkel Greece Trip: Protests Mark German Chancellor's First Visit During Debt Crisis

By Noah Barkin and Karolina Tagaris ATHENS, Oct 9 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel flew to the heart of Europe's debt crisis on Tuesday, braving protests by angry Greeks to take a message of support -- but no new money -- to a near-bankrupt nation fighting to stay in the euro. Europe's most powerful leader can expect a hostile reception by a people worn down by years of recession and austerity. Many Greeks blame Germany for forcing painful reforms on them in exchange for two EU-IMF bailout packages totalling over 200 billion euros. Police have banned protests in most of central Athens and readied 6,000 officers, including anti-terrorist units and rooftop snipers, to provide...

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