PROTEST COURTHOUSE

A group of some 50 demonstrators protested outside a court in Athens as four demonstrators from Greece's anti-goverment protests testified inside the building. Court sources said the four protesters testified at a hearing against chargers of violence against police, possession of explosive devices and disturbing the peace.

A decision was expected later in the day on the chargers. More than 400 protesters have been detained during the unrest, but most of them have subsequently been released without charge. A relative of one of the accused said witnesses present were not allowed to give their testimony properly.

It was the second week of anti government demonstrations, unleashed when a policement shot dead 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos. The disturbances have fed on anger over political scandals, high youth unemployment and low wages, and the impact of global recession on Greece.

Shopkeepers in central Athens braced for further violence later on Monday, when a March by anarchist groups were expected. Students and unions also scheduled protests for the coming days. More than 500 Athens shops have been affected by the riots, which have caused more than 200 million Euros of damage. The policement charged with killing Grigoropoulos has been jailed along with a colleague , pending trial.