Greek farmers protest against tax hikes in bailout deal

Athens -Thousands of Greek farmers on Wednesday protested in Athens against tax hikes planned under the country's latest economic bailout.

Police said 4 000 farmers had gathered on the central Syntagma Square.

Most were from the island of Crete, a main area of Greece's agricultural production.

"We are protesting against tax increases that will lead to the gradual disappearance of the agricultural sector," Manolis Lambrakis, a 22-year-old farmer from Crete, told AFP.

The leftist government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has committed to additional tax hikes and income cuts in return for a €86bn ($93bn) bailout agreed in July.

Among them is the pledge to scrap measures such as income tax breaks, and cheaper fuel, for farmers.

In addition, farmers' income tax rate is to progressively double to 26% from 13% currently and their pension contributions will rise.