Athens, Greece (CNN) -- Anti-austerity protests in Greece turned deadly Thursday, as a demonstrator died of injuries sustained as fighting broke out among police, rioters and other demonstrators.
The news came as tens of thousands of Greek protesters rallied in the streets of Athens for a second day, as lawmakers prepare to vote on a new round of tough budget-cutting measures aimed at bringing down the national debt.
After a peaceful start, violent clashes broke out Thursday afternoon between rioters and the police, and between the rioters -- described as anarchists by reporters at the scene -- and some union demonstrators.
Tear gas was fired into the crowd, while rocks and fire bombs were thrown.
The protester killed was a member of the PAME workers' union, lawmaker Makis Voridis told parliament. Hospital officials told CNN he was a 53-year-old man who was injured during the violence.
Despite demonstrations nationwide Wednesday, lawmakers approved the austerity measures in principle and are to vote on them individually Thursday.
"We have no hope. The only hope we have is the strength of the people," said protester Vagelis Filezis, a civil engineer.
He said Europe's leaders were trying "to save the banks but they don't think about the people."
And he warned Italy and Spain, which are also facing debt crises: "Look at us. This is where you will be in two to three years."
Organizers had urged protesters from all over the country to come to Athens Thursday, suggesting it could be larger than the 70,000-plus police estimated that came out Wednesday.
Organizers estimated the turnout Wednesday at 120,000, which would make it one of the biggest protests in the country in years.
Police said there were about 40,000 people on the streets Thursday morning -- fewer than at the same time a day earlier -- and about 3,000 police officers. The mood early in the day was good-natured, with people sitting in the street as pop music played over sound systems.
On Wednesday, clashes between protesters and police in front of the Greek parliament building left at least six protesters and 15 police officers injured, authorities said. At least 15 people were arrested.
Some marchers Thursday accused the government of planting troublemakers in the crowd to spark violence.
"They have never been caught," said teacher Thannasis Karametsus. "Why not?"
Strikers in Greece aimed to shut down wide sectors of the country, but lawmakers passed the new austerity law in principle by 154 votes in favor to 141 against, with five lawmakers absent.
"Don't bow your head, it's time for resistance and struggle," marchers chanted in the capital Wednesday as they gathered for the union-backed demonstration.
The violence broke out around lunchtime in one corner of the square, beside Parliament House, as a group of protesters dressed mostly in black threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at police.
Officers fired tear gas and stun grenades, or "flash bangs," in return, sending noisy detonations echoing round the square.
Smoke filled the area by mid-afternoon as a fire burned in front of the Finance Ministry, forcing many peaceful demonstrators to move away.
"I'm here for my children and everyone else's children. Those punks in there have destroyed everyone's lives," said former railway worker Diamandis Goufas, 62, pointing at parliament.
Greeks are angry at yet another round of planned austerity measures as Greece tries to bring down its stratospheric debt.
Lawmakers are trying to cut government costs to reassure international backers it is doing enough to earn the bailout funds they have promised to pour into the country.
The new bill would lead to around 30,000 job losses and further cuts to wages and pensions for workers in the public sector.
European Union leaders are scrambling to minimize the effect of Greece's debt on their common currency, the euro.
Over the weekend, finance ministers from the world's largest economies pledged their commitment to take "all necessary actions" to stabilize markets.
They aim to keep banks well capitalized so they can weather the effects of any defaults by Greece or other indebted countries like Portugal, Spain, Ireland or Italy.
But there appears to be a split between France and Germany -- Europe's two largest economies -- on how to do it.
Germany has stressed that individual European states should inject capital into domestic banks that lack sufficient buffers. But analysts say France is opposed to this idea because it could jeopardize the nation's top-tier credit rating.
European leaders are expected to hear concrete details about how the plan might work at a European Council meeting Sunday.
European Union heads of state are widely expected to finalize the plan in early November at a meeting of the Group of 20 world economic powers.
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