Greek officials resign over austerity cuts

Among the ministers who resigned are the country’s deputy ministers of education, defense, and foreign affairs.

According to Greek sources, Prime Minister Lucas Papademos may have to reshuffle his cabinet on Friday.

The parting deputy ministers were reportedly all from the LAOS party which is a supporter of the coalition government.

Meanwhile, clashes have broken out between union workers on strike and riot police outside the parliament.

In order to qualify for the new bailout, eurozone finance ministers say Greece must pass the new package in parliament, and impose additional spending cuts of 325 million euros this year.

The EU and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) say adopting such measures is essential to securing the 130-billion-euro bailout package that will save Athens from a debt default in March.

Bailout creditors have given Greek leaders until the middle of next week to meet the demands of the austerity measures.

Greek union workers are currently on a 48-hour strike, calling on lawmakers to abandon the deal.

Greece has the highest debt burden in proportion to the size of its economy in the 17-nation eurozone. The rate of unemployment in Greece is 19.2 percent and the country has been in recession since 2009.

SZH/HGH

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