Nationwide strike paralyzes Greece

Angry workers go on strike in Greece against the government's spending cuts, bringing the country's flights, trains and ferries to a halt and paralyzing public services.

The general strike which hit the country involved teachers, bank employees and doctors protesting the Greek government's austerity measures.

The government argues that the spending cut plan -- which includes wage freezes, pension cuts and tax rises -- is essential for pulling the country out of a 110bn euro international debt.

Meanwhile, the public sector umbrella union in Greece, ADEDY, says low-income Greeks will suffer disproportionately as a result of the new harsh measures.

"The executive committee of ADEDY calls on the workers to strongly react against the unprecedentedly harsh and savage measures taken by the government," the union said in a statement.

Around 1,700 police officers were deployed to central Athens to maintain order during Wednesday's demonstrations.

The protests are believed to be the first major test of the Greek government's determination to implement austerity cuts, seeking to avert fiscal meltdown.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=125530§ionid=351020606.