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| Greeks strike against austerity | Greeks strike against austerity |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Workers in Greece are staging a 48-hour general strike across the public and private sectors in protest at a proposed new wave of austerity. | |
| Public transport has been shut down, but fewer people have demonstrated than during previous stoppages. | |
| MPs are due to vote on the package of salary and pension cuts, and labour market reforms, on Wednesday. | MPs are due to vote on the package of salary and pension cuts, and labour market reforms, on Wednesday. |
| Greece must back the measures, and the 2013 budget, to receive the next part of a bailout and avoid bankruptcy. | Greece must back the measures, and the 2013 budget, to receive the next part of a bailout and avoid bankruptcy. |
| The latest strike, called by Greece's two biggest labour unions, representing half the four million-strong workforce, started at midnight. | The latest strike, called by Greece's two biggest labour unions, representing half the four million-strong workforce, started at midnight. |
| Trains, ferries and some international flights have all been cancelled, schools closed, and hospitals reportedly open only for emergencies. | |
| It's the third major walkout in two months as Greece tries to reduce its budget deficit in line with international demands. | |
| The BBC's Mark Lowen in Athens says that with proposals for a fifth consecutive cut to pensions, an increase in the retirement age and reductions to salaries, benefits and healthcare, the fury among Greece's population is growing. | The BBC's Mark Lowen in Athens says that with proposals for a fifth consecutive cut to pensions, an increase in the retirement age and reductions to salaries, benefits and healthcare, the fury among Greece's population is growing. |
| Anais Metaxopolou, a 65-year-old pensioner demonstrating outside the Greek parliament, said: "They should go to hell and beyond. | |
| "They should ask me how I feel when I have to go to church to beg for food." | |
| Police have been deployed outside the parliament building in Athens. Larger demonstrations are expected on Wednesday when Greek MPs vote on a package which ministers say should save a total of 13.5bn euros (£11bn; $17bn). | |
| Approving the tough reforms and passing the 2013 budget are key to receiving a 31.5bn-euro instalment from the International Monetary Fund and European Union that has been on hold for months. | Approving the tough reforms and passing the 2013 budget are key to receiving a 31.5bn-euro instalment from the International Monetary Fund and European Union that has been on hold for months. |
| Rebels | |
| The government must meet a 5bn-euro debt repayment in mid-November and says it needs the bailout cash to avoid going bankrupt. | The government must meet a 5bn-euro debt repayment in mid-November and says it needs the bailout cash to avoid going bankrupt. |
| However, the Democratic Left Party, which is the junior member of the three-party governing coalition, is refusing to back the package. | However, the Democratic Left Party, which is the junior member of the three-party governing coalition, is refusing to back the package. |
| The second biggest coalition party, the socialist Pasok, is also facing a rebellion by some MPs. | The second biggest coalition party, the socialist Pasok, is also facing a rebellion by some MPs. |
| Prime Minister Antonis Samaras hopes that even without the their support, he will have enough votes to get the austerity package through on Wednesday, and the budget on Sunday. | Prime Minister Antonis Samaras hopes that even without the their support, he will have enough votes to get the austerity package through on Wednesday, and the budget on Sunday. |
| He has tried to reassure the public, who have endured repeated rounds of austerity and a five-year recession, that these would be "the last cuts in wages and pensions". | He has tried to reassure the public, who have endured repeated rounds of austerity and a five-year recession, that these would be "the last cuts in wages and pensions". |
| But Greeks have heard similar promises before, and Ilias Iliopoulos, head of public sector union ADEDY, said they had now had enough. | But Greeks have heard similar promises before, and Ilias Iliopoulos, head of public sector union ADEDY, said they had now had enough. |
| "We're calling on every lawmaker in parliament, without exception, and we're telling them that 100% of workers in the public sector are saying that they should not vote for these measures," he said. | "We're calling on every lawmaker in parliament, without exception, and we're telling them that 100% of workers in the public sector are saying that they should not vote for these measures," he said. |
| Are you in Greece? Are you taking part in the latest strike or protests? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Greece? Are you taking part in the latest strike or protests? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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