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Greek MPs Vote on Austerity as Protests Turn Violent
[An Nahar] A huge protest outside the Greek parliament turned violent Wednesday ahead of a late-night vote on a deeply unpopular new austerity bill, as demonstrators hurled petrol bombs and police fired tear gas to disperse them.As a general strike called by the two main labor unions paralyzed the country for a second straight day, more than 70,000 people turned out to protest the new 18.5-billion-euro ($23.6-billion) belt-tightening package. The measures are vital to unlock international aid and stave off imminent bankruptcy for the crisis-ravaged country. The demonstration proceeded peacefully for nearly two hours as a heavy police cordon stood guard. But when officers used tear gas to repel a group of nearly 300 people, protesters responded by throwing petrol bombs, according to a police source, who said 20 people had been cooled for a few years Drop the rosco, Muggsy, or you're one with the ages! The violence erupted  as 300 politicians held a fierce and lengthy pre-vote session that was interrupted when Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras announced that salary cuts would also affect parliamentary employees -- who responded by threatening to go on strike immediately.Posted by: Fred 2012-11-08 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=355554 |