Huge strikes in Greece against austerity plan

Massive strikes and demonstrations have been held in Greece to protest austerity measures submitted to parliament.

Public transport and other workers launched a 48-hour nationwide strike on Wednesday morning in response to calls from labor unions.

120,000 people took to the streets in the capital Athens and elsewhere, the largest protest since the Greek debt crisis surfaced in 2009.

In Athens, some demonstrators turned violent and smashed store windows and hurled petrol bombs at police officers. Riot police fired tear gas into the crowd.

The Greek parliament gave initial approval to a new round of austerity measures in a vote late on Wednesday.
A final vote is scheduled for Thursday.

The measures include new tax raises, cuts to pensions and wages and a reduction of 30,000 government employees.

Prime Minister George Papandreou hopes to secure a final vote in order to receive new loans from other eurozone members and the International Monetary Fund.

Thursday, October 20, 2011 06:46 +0900 (JST)