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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Greek officials strike over cuts | Greek officials strike over cuts |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Customs officials and tax inspectors in Greece are observing a two-day strike to protest against government austerity measures, including wage cuts. | |
| The strike is disrupting Greece's import market, with lines of trucks being held at the country's borders. | |
| The austerity measures have been introduced to try and tackle Greece's huge budget deficit and national debt. | |
| The EU approved the plan on Wednesday, but insisted on inspecting Greece's notoriously unreliable accounts. | The EU approved the plan on Wednesday, but insisted on inspecting Greece's notoriously unreliable accounts. |
| Part of the government's plan relies on tax collectors recovering billions of euros lost to tax evasion. | Part of the government's plan relies on tax collectors recovering billions of euros lost to tax evasion. |
| The BBC's Malcolm Brabant in Athens says the tax inspectors are the most feared people in Greece, with the power to descend on any business without warning and go through the books. | The BBC's Malcolm Brabant in Athens says the tax inspectors are the most feared people in Greece, with the power to descend on any business without warning and go through the books. |
| They have a vital role in Greece's economic recovery, which is contingent on clawing back as much tax as possible, adds our correspondent. | They have a vital role in Greece's economic recovery, which is contingent on clawing back as much tax as possible, adds our correspondent. |
| Threat to euro | Threat to euro |
| On Tuesday, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou announced a public sector salary freeze, a higher retirement age and a hike in petrol prices. | On Tuesday, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou announced a public sector salary freeze, a higher retirement age and a hike in petrol prices. |
| Greece has been the black sheep of Europe. We need to change Greeks respond to tough measures | Greece has been the black sheep of Europe. We need to change Greeks respond to tough measures |
| Other measures already announced include the non-replacement of departing civil servants and the tax crackdown. | Other measures already announced include the non-replacement of departing civil servants and the tax crackdown. |
| Greece is one of several EU countries struggling with a gaping deficit and heavy debt, preventing them from spending their way out of recession. | Greece is one of several EU countries struggling with a gaping deficit and heavy debt, preventing them from spending their way out of recession. |
| Greece's deficit is, at 12.7%, more than four times higher than eurozone rules allow. Its debt is about 300bn euros ($419bn, £259bn). | Greece's deficit is, at 12.7%, more than four times higher than eurozone rules allow. Its debt is about 300bn euros ($419bn, £259bn). |
| The possibility of Greece or one of the other stricken countries being unable to pay its debts - and either needing an EU bailout or being forced to abandon the euro - has been called the biggest threat yet to the single currency. | The possibility of Greece or one of the other stricken countries being unable to pay its debts - and either needing an EU bailout or being forced to abandon the euro - has been called the biggest threat yet to the single currency. |
| But union members complain that the Greek government has bowed to the markets and pressure from the EU. | But union members complain that the Greek government has bowed to the markets and pressure from the EU. |
| Farmers have already been protesting for weeks, demanding more government assistance. | Farmers have already been protesting for weeks, demanding more government assistance. |
| Civil servants are planning a strike next week and the country's biggest union, GSEE, voted on Thursday to hold a mass walk-out on 24 February. | |
| Are you in Greece? What is your reaction to the planned austerity measures? Do you support the programme? Do you work in the public sector? Will the cuts affect you? You can send us your views using the form below: | Are you in Greece? What is your reaction to the planned austerity measures? Do you support the programme? Do you work in the public sector? Will the cuts affect you? You can send us your views using the form below: |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |