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Greece braced for mass protests Tear gas fired at Greek protest
(about 2 hours later)
Thousands of Greek demonstrators are gathering in Athens for a rally called by trade unions and left-wing parties against government austerity plans. Greek riot police have fired tear gas at youths protesting in Athens as a trade union march passed in front of the finance ministry.
Union leaders hope the May Day protests will highlight Greek resistance to the wage cuts, tax rises and pension reductions expected to be implemented. There were reports of similar scenes in the northern city of Thessaloniki as youths attacked business premises.
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has warned of a period of hardship. Thousands of Greeks are taking part in May Day rallies called by trade unions and left-wing parties in protest against government austerity measures.
He will give details of cuts once plans are finalised for a bail-out by the EU and International Monetary Fund. The planned cuts are in exchange for a huge international financial bail-out.
The European Commission said it expected the leaders of the 15 other countries using the euro to approve a package on Sunday. There is huge public resistance to the wage cuts, tax rises and pension reductions that are expected to be implemented.
The Greek government says it needs a loan deal by 19 May to avoid a devastating debt default. The measures are being demanded by the European Union in return for a rescue package, which is expected to total between 100-120bn euros (£87-100bn; $133-160bn) over three years.
The full details of the bail-out are expected to be revealed this weekend if the Eurozone leaders finally sign off the deal, which is designed to prevent Greece from defaulting on its enormous debt obligations.
'Unpopular measures''Unpopular measures'
The unions hope that the march through Athens will attract tens of thousands so they can demonstrate to the government, the Eurozone, the IMF and the international markets, that they can mobilise enough "troops" to defeat the new austerity programme, says the BBC's Malcolm Brabant in Athens. The BBC's Malcolm Brabant in Athens says the mood has become serious as thousands of demonstrators march through the city towards parliament.
The value of the euro dropped on Friday after publication of a new poll suggested more than 50% of Greeks would take to the streets to try to stop the government's austerity drive. The unions hope that the rally will demonstrate to the government, the Eurozone, the IMF and the international markets, that they can mobilise enough "troops" to defeat the new austerity programme, our correspondent says.
The full details of the bail-out are expected to be revealed this weekend if the Eurozone leaders finally sign off the multi-billion dollar package, which is designed to prevent Greece from defaulting on its enormous debt obligations. The value of the euro dropped on Friday after publication of a new poll suggested more than 50% of Greeks would take to the streets to try to stop the government's plans.
Prime Minister Papandreou says the package is essential to save the country and protect its future. Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou is expected to announce details of the cuts once the rescue package is approved.
He has said he would not weaken despite opposition and the political cost of the unpopular measures. He says the package is essential to save the country and protect its future, and has warned citizens to brace themselves for a period of hardship.
He has said he will not weaken despite opposition and the political cost of the unpopular measures.
Are you in Greece? Have you seen the protests? Do you support them? What do you think of the government's austerity measures?
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