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Greek Bankers Strike Over Deaths

   VOA News 06 May 2010
   A  pedestrian  walks  by  a  closed  bank where the spray paint on the
   closed  shutters reads: "general strike forever" in Central Athens, on
   Thursday, May 6, 2010

Photo: AP

   A  pedestrian  walks  by  a  closed  bank where the spray paint on the
   closed  shutters reads: "general strike forever" in Central Athens, on
   Thursday, May 6, 2010

   Bank workers in Greece are on strike Thursday to protest the deaths of
   three employees trapped in a bank torched by protesters a day earlier.
   Thousands   of   Greeks   clashed  with  police  on  Wednesday  during
   demonstrations  in  Athens to protest controversial austerity measures
   meant to save the country from bankruptcy.
   Greek   Finance   Minister  George  Papaconstantinou  told  parliament
   Thursday  that  the  country's  only hope of avoiding bankruptcy is to
   agree  to  the austerity plan as well as loans from the European Union
   and International Monetary Fund.
   Lawmakers are expected to vote on the measure by the end of the week.
   The  $30  billion  in  proposed government spending cuts are part of a
   $145-billion  deal with the EU and IMF designed to prevent Greece from
   going bankrupt.
   The  Greek  debt crisis has rattled investors worldwide, and investors
   worry  it could soon hurt other European countries, including Portugal
   and Spain.
   A  growing  number  of European officials say the future health of the
   European economy may depend on the success of the Greek bailout.
   Germany,  which  will provide a large share of the bailout, has warned
   that  the  loans  could  be  halted  if  Greece  fails  to approve the
   austerity measures.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP.

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