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November 2, 2011

Greek Cabinet Backs Prime Minister’s Call For Popular Referendum On $179 Billion Bailout 
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The Greek cabinet has backed Prime Minister George Papandreou's
controversial decision to hold a popular referendum on the European
Union's $179 billion bailout that is aimed to resolve the Euro debt
crisis. Greek officials have suggested the vote would probably be held
in mid-January, but the interior minister said it could happen as early
as December. But before that happens, Papandreou's government will face
a crucial confidence vote in parliament on Friday. Papandreou's decision
to put the bailout before a popular vote has outraged other European
leaders. French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Germany's Angela Merkel
have summoned Papandreou for crisis talks in Cannes, before a G20 summit
of major world economies. Demonstrators are also gearing up to protest
G20 summit that begins on Thursday.

Protester: "I am demonstrating because I'm fed up with finance. Finance
of the powerful, of spoiled money. I am fed up of tax havens, I am fed
up of people starving while the banks are pocketing everything and
taking tax payers' money to finance this [expletive]. That's why I'm
demonstrating. Because I'm fed up, I'm fed up."



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