 The immediate cause of the fighting was an unsanctioned EAM demonstration in Athens’ Syntagma Square on Sunday, 3 December 1944, which turned violent when gunfire erupted.Meanwhile, General Scobie promptly ordered all ELAS units to leave Athens within seventy-two hours, and on the following day he declared martial law.The clashes ended on the night of 5 January, and ELAS began a general withdrawal from the Greek capital.