... http://www.flickr.com/photos/22053590@N00/5759467719/in/photostream/

...tells me there were many more than the 10,000 to 15,000 estimated. They've filled the upper platform around parliament and also the streets extending from Syntagma Square. That is more than 10-15 easy.

Yesterday the realistic assessment was around 25.000 and that's erring on the side of caution. People slept in the square and had participatory organizing meetings.

The gatherings were a huge success outside of Athens. There were 33 such events biggest among which was 12.000 in Thessaloniki (I'm sure there's a stream somewhere), 5000 in Patras over 2000 in Larissa, Volos, Heraklion and Chania. The locals say that these were the biggest demos since the Iraq war protests....

The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom - William Blake

The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom - William Blake

Greeks inspired by the Spanish "Indignant" or "Indignados" movement held their largest protest so far in Athens on Sunday, which some estimates put as high as 100,000 people, although a more accurate assesment seemed to be that those taking part exceeded 30,000.

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Greece's deputy Prime Minister Theodoros Pangalos had earlier dismissed the significance of the country's `Indignant' movement.

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Greece's version of the `Indignant' movement, protesting austerity measures and demanding that politicians are more in tune with citizens' needs, has led to thousands of people protesting in front or Parliament in Athens, as well as in other cities, every day since Wednesday. Some have started camping out overnight as well.

With no end to the series of nighly rallies in sight the Greek political system has been looking on nervously as protesters in Athens's central Syntagma Square has twice blocked the exit of MPs from Parliament. Last night 60 Greek and foreign MPs also had to be evacuated the Coast Guard by the holiday island of Corfu after protesters beseiged a conference on illegal immigration being held in the capital.

As has been the case in Spain and Arab countries the rallies and participants have been organising demonstrations with online media centre springing up to get their message out and nightly popular assemblies which debate solutions to the present economic crisis into the small hours.

With the Greek parliament set to vote on the conditions attached to the latest loan installment from the IMF, European Union and European Central Bank the ruling PASOK administration is in the unenviable position of having to push through legislation opposed by 90% of the electorate.

In the conventional way of looking at things, the Indignant movement appears apolitical. In reality, though, it is profoundly and surprisingly political.

It has emerged from the bowels of society and expresses the rising up of the silent majority, which is seeing the basic constants of its way of life being threatened. The way the prime minister is being gradually undermined effectively marks the beginning of the end for this government.