ktlight
30th June 2011, 07:20
FYI:
Greek protesters have set fire to the finance ministry building after the Parliament voted in favor of new austerity measures.
The blaze started "inside or in front of" a post office on the ground floor of the ministerial building, the Athens fire brigade told AFP on Wednesday, adding that the violence prevented firefighters from reaching and extinguishing the fire.
Fighting has intensified in recent hours as the parliament's approval paved the way for further budget cuts as well as tax increases as the newly-approved austerity plan aims to save Greece some EUR 28 billion.
The passage of the bill means the European Union and the International Monetary Fund will release EUR 12 billion in aid to Greece -- the latest tranche of Greece's EUR 110 billion bailout program.
A second vote will be held on Thursday which, if passed, allows the package to be implemented.
Violent clashes were reported outside parliament earlier in the day, where protesters tried to prevent lawmakers from entering.
A 48-hour general strike is under way in protest at the proposed changes.
Greece has a debt of over EUR 300 billion, which is worth more than 150 percent of its annual economic output.
Anti-government demonstrations in Greece have turned violent at times, leaving scores of protesters and security forces injured.
source
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/186817.html
Greek protesters have set fire to the finance ministry building after the Parliament voted in favor of new austerity measures.
The blaze started "inside or in front of" a post office on the ground floor of the ministerial building, the Athens fire brigade told AFP on Wednesday, adding that the violence prevented firefighters from reaching and extinguishing the fire.
Fighting has intensified in recent hours as the parliament's approval paved the way for further budget cuts as well as tax increases as the newly-approved austerity plan aims to save Greece some EUR 28 billion.
The passage of the bill means the European Union and the International Monetary Fund will release EUR 12 billion in aid to Greece -- the latest tranche of Greece's EUR 110 billion bailout program.
A second vote will be held on Thursday which, if passed, allows the package to be implemented.
Violent clashes were reported outside parliament earlier in the day, where protesters tried to prevent lawmakers from entering.
A 48-hour general strike is under way in protest at the proposed changes.
Greece has a debt of over EUR 300 billion, which is worth more than 150 percent of its annual economic output.
Anti-government demonstrations in Greece have turned violent at times, leaving scores of protesters and security forces injured.
source
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/186817.html