After a trial lasting more than five years, the leadership of Greece's neo-Nazi party has been convicted of running a criminal organisation.

Big crowds gathered outside the court in Athens as the judges gave verdicts on 68 defendants.

Golden Dawn secured 18 MPs in 2012, as Greeks were battered by a financial crisis.

The criminal inquiry into the party began with the murder of an anti-fascist rapper in 2013.

Leader Nikos Michaloliakos and six colleagues were convicted of heading a criminal group. Supporter Giorgos Roupakias was found guilty of murdering an anti-racist musician and 15 others were convicted of conspiracy in the case.

Some 2,000 police were deployed around Athens Appeals Court as thousands of protesters demanded long jail terms, carrying banners that read "fear will not win" and "Nazis in prison", Greek media reported.

Tear gas was fired into the crowd as some of the protesters clashed with police and threw petrol bombs.

Eleven of the defendants were in the court when the verdict was read out, journalist Dmitris Parras told the BBC, along with 50 attorneys and 50 journalists.

Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou said the verdict was an important day for the country's democracy.

Hundreds of witnesses gave evidence in the trial, which was delayed this year by the Covid-19 pandemic.

(Source: BBC)