Tension flares as Greek protesters clash with police over Macedonia name deal

Protesters demonstrating against a deal on Macedonia's name ratified in January clashed with police during Greece's Independence Day celebrations in Thessaloniki on Monday afternoon (March 25).

In the video, demonstrators can be seen trying to break through the police line to reach politicians during the Greek Independence Day parade.

According to the filmer, they shouted "traitors" and sang Greek national anthems as they confronted the police. A man pointing at politicians watching the parade is seen screaming: "They are not Greeks, realise it, they are Slavs".

After a decades-long dispute with its northern neighbour, the Greek Parliament narrowly passed a bill in January, approving Macedonia's name change from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to the Republic of North Macedonia, to distinguish it from the Greek territory with the same name.