Post by harisstavr on May 6, 2010 16:45:31 GMT -6
Directly from BBC news [link: news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8661385.stm]
"At least three people have been killed in the Greek capital as protesters set fire to a bank during a general strike over planned austerity measures.
The bodies were found inside the Marfin Bank in Athens. The Greek prime minister said it was a "murderous act".
The protest became violent, with petrol bombs thrown at police, who responded with pepper spray and tear gas.
Protesters are angered by spending cuts and tax rises planned in return for a 110bn euro (£95bn) bail-out for Greece.
A police spokesman said the three victims - two women and a man - were among 20 people working in the Marfin bank branch on Stadiou Avenue in central Athens when the petrol bomb was thrown.
Most of the employees managed to escape the fumes as the flames took hold.
( ***)
Parliament is to vote on the measures by the end of the week. They include wage freezes, pension cuts and tax rises. They aim to achieve fresh budget cuts of 30bn euros over three years, with the goal of cutting Greece's public deficit to less than 3% of GDP by 2014. It currently stands at 13.6%
"
so sad
"At least three people have been killed in the Greek capital as protesters set fire to a bank during a general strike over planned austerity measures.
The bodies were found inside the Marfin Bank in Athens. The Greek prime minister said it was a "murderous act".
The protest became violent, with petrol bombs thrown at police, who responded with pepper spray and tear gas.
Protesters are angered by spending cuts and tax rises planned in return for a 110bn euro (£95bn) bail-out for Greece.
A police spokesman said the three victims - two women and a man - were among 20 people working in the Marfin bank branch on Stadiou Avenue in central Athens when the petrol bomb was thrown.
Most of the employees managed to escape the fumes as the flames took hold.
( ***)
Parliament is to vote on the measures by the end of the week. They include wage freezes, pension cuts and tax rises. They aim to achieve fresh budget cuts of 30bn euros over three years, with the goal of cutting Greece's public deficit to less than 3% of GDP by 2014. It currently stands at 13.6%
"
so sad
