Greek news

Violence Erupts as Greeks Strike to Protest Austerity

                                                                                                                        

ATHENS — Widespread protests erupted across Greece on Wednesday as trade unions called a nationwide strike to contest billions of euros in new salary and pension cuts being discussed by the government and its international creditors.Mr. Samaras is negotiating a $15 billion austerity package that is needed to persuade Greece’s so-called troika of lenders — the International Monetary Fund, the European Central Bank and the European Commission — to release nearly $40.7 billion in financial aid that the country needs to stay solvent.

In Athens, demonstrations were peaceful throughout the morning, as civil servants, teachers, medical personnel, bank employees and lawyers made their way to the city center. A police spokeswoman put the turnout at 35,000 to 40,000 people — modest by Greek standards.