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Greek MPs pass austerity plan amid violent protests | Greek MPs pass austerity plan amid violent protests |
(40 minutes later) | |
Greece's parliament has passed a controversial package of austerity measures, demanded by the eurozone and IMF in return for a 130bn-euro ($170bn; £110bn) bailout to avoid default. | Greece's parliament has passed a controversial package of austerity measures, demanded by the eurozone and IMF in return for a 130bn-euro ($170bn; £110bn) bailout to avoid default. |
The vote was carried by 199 votes in favour, with 74 MPs voting against. | |
Coalition parties expelled over 40 deputies for failing to back the bill. | Coalition parties expelled over 40 deputies for failing to back the bill. |
The vote came amid some of the worst violence seen in Greece in years, with protesters outside parliament throwing stones and petrol bombs. | |
Police fired tear gas and several buildings were set on fire in Athens. | |
Dozens of police officers and at least 37 protesters were injured, 23 suspected rioters were arrested and a further 25 detained, AP reports. | |
PM Lucas Papademos urged calm, saying violence had no place in a democracy. | PM Lucas Papademos urged calm, saying violence had no place in a democracy. |
Lawmakers have also approved a related deal to write off 100bn euros of Greek debt held by private banks. | Lawmakers have also approved a related deal to write off 100bn euros of Greek debt held by private banks. |
Despite a rebellion by some MPs from parties in the ruling coalition, the result was expected, reports the BBC's Mark Lowen in Athens. | Despite a rebellion by some MPs from parties in the ruling coalition, the result was expected, reports the BBC's Mark Lowen in Athens. |
Pasok, the largest party, and its coalition ally New Democracy - which have both backed the bill - account for more than 230 deputies out of a total of 300. | Pasok, the largest party, and its coalition ally New Democracy - which have both backed the bill - account for more than 230 deputies out of a total of 300. |
Following the vote the parties announced they had each expelled about 20 of the rebel MPs. | |
'Vandalism' | 'Vandalism' |
There is mounting public anger in Greece and a feeling that the impact on ordinary people is beyond the value of the bailout, says our correspondent. | |
Some reports say as many as 80,000 people joined demonstrations in Athens, with another 20,000 protesting in Thessaloniki. | Some reports say as many as 80,000 people joined demonstrations in Athens, with another 20,000 protesting in Thessaloniki. |
Violent protests also spread to other Greek town and cities, including the holiday islands of Corfu and Crete, according to Reuters. | Violent protests also spread to other Greek town and cities, including the holiday islands of Corfu and Crete, according to Reuters. |
Running battles with police were still continuing in parts of the capital late on Sunday. | Running battles with police were still continuing in parts of the capital late on Sunday. |
What went wrong in Greece?BACK {current} of {total} NEXT | What went wrong in Greece?BACK {current} of {total} NEXT |
Protesters hurled flares and chunks of marble torn up from the square. Some had tried to break through a cordon of riot police around the parliament. | Protesters hurled flares and chunks of marble torn up from the square. Some had tried to break through a cordon of riot police around the parliament. |
Several historic buildings, including cafes and cinemas, were in flames. Syntagma Square - in the heart of Athens - is cloaked in a hail of tear gas, our correspondent says. | Several historic buildings, including cafes and cinemas, were in flames. Syntagma Square - in the heart of Athens - is cloaked in a hail of tear gas, our correspondent says. |
Ioannis Simantiras, 34, said the protesters were boxed in by the police. | Ioannis Simantiras, 34, said the protesters were boxed in by the police. |
"Nobody could get away from the gas," he told the BBC. | "Nobody could get away from the gas," he told the BBC. |
"When it engulfed everybody, and everybody was choking the police drew back and opened up a corridor for us away from the parliament - that's when everybody made a run for it." | "When it engulfed everybody, and everybody was choking the police drew back and opened up a corridor for us away from the parliament - that's when everybody made a run for it." |
The austerity measures include: | The austerity measures include: |
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Mr Papademos had earlier said Greece did not have the luxury of such protests in such difficult times. | Mr Papademos had earlier said Greece did not have the luxury of such protests in such difficult times. |
"Vandalisms, violence and destruction have no place in a democratic country and won't be tolerated," he said in a speech in parliament before the vote. | "Vandalisms, violence and destruction have no place in a democratic country and won't be tolerated," he said in a speech in parliament before the vote. |
"From you and your vote it will depend if Greece will remain in the euro or if it will be driven to an unruly default," he said. | "From you and your vote it will depend if Greece will remain in the euro or if it will be driven to an unruly default," he said. |
"By voting for this economic programme and opening the road for the loan agreement you will set the foundations for the reform and recovery of the economy." | "By voting for this economic programme and opening the road for the loan agreement you will set the foundations for the reform and recovery of the economy." |
Earlier this week several ministers from the coalition government, including two from Pasok, quit their jobs in protest at the measures. | |
The leader of the far-right Laos party effectively withdrew his party from the coalition, announcing its 15 deputies would not back the austerity measures. | |
George Karatzaferis complained that Greeks were being "humiliated" by Germany, through its influence over the eurozone negotiations. | |
The eurozone bloc wants a further 325m euros in savings for this year and also insists that Greek leaders give "strong political assurances" on the implementation of the packages. | |
Greece cannot service its huge debt, and there are fears that a default could endanger Europe's financial stability and even lead to a break-up of the eurozone. | |
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