<p><br /> Fierce clashes have broken out between Greek residents and police in Keratea outside Athens in a dispute over a local landfill site.<br /> </p><p><br /> Amateur video showed more than 100 residents throwing stones and Molotov cocktails on a highway running through the area, with police using tear gas in response.<br /> </p><p><br /> Residents shouted "Police, pigs, murderers" as they circled one of the police stations. Police vehicles were overturned and burnt with two police stations attacked and six police cars damaged.<br /> </p><p><br /> Residents opposed to a new garbage dump have been battling with police who have been guarding the entrance to the landfill site for several weeks. The highway to the site has been blocked with a triple-layered police cordon in an attempt to stop residents from approaching it. Construction on the dump has been temporarily stopped.<br /> </p><p><br /> The stand-off continued when a traditional Epiphany ceremony was interrupted. The highway to the landfill site also leads to a lake near Keratea where the ceremony takes place each year. But with riot police blocking the road, a priest and residents were unable to reach the lake.<br /> </p><p><br /> Instead the priest blessed a crucifix which was to be used in the ceremony with water from a small urn, and then gave his blessing to the police as hundreds of angry residents booed and jeered the officers.<br /> </p><p><br /> The Epiphany ceremony traditionally involves a priest blessing the water of the lake and throwing a cross into the water. Residents then jump in and compete to fetch the crucifix.<br /> </p>
