Unraveling of the entitlement society: Athens mayhem raises fears of inevitable Greek social explosion

GREECE, ATHENS - FEBRUARY 12: Demonstrators throw pfire bombs to riot police during violent protests in central Athens February 12, 2012. Thousands of demonstrators clashed with police as the Greek parliament prepared to vote on a new and deeply unpopular EU/IMF austerity deal, to secure a 130 billion euro bailout, aimed at saving Greece from bankruptcy and what Prime Minister Lucas Papademos warned would be 'uncontrollable economic chaos'. (Getty Images)

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek political leaders say the nation must accept yet more punishing austerity or face a social explosion, but after a night of violence and destruction in Athens, some people fear this explosion may already be about to begin.

Trade union leader Ilias Iliopoulos condemned the mayhem in which buildings burned across Athens as parliament debated new budget cuts but said the government had to listen to the people.

"People sent a message yesterday: Enough is enough! They can't take it any more," Iliopoulos, general secretary of public sector union ADEDY, told Reuters.

"The social explosion will come one way or another, there is nothing they can do about it any more."

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