BREAKING NEWS
Greek parliament passes austerity bill
The Greek parliament passes an austerity package to slash $40bn off national debt.
The Greek parliament has passed an austerity package by a slim majority to slash $40bn off the national debt.
Wednesday's vote saw 155 members of parliament vote in favour, 138 against and 5 abstentions.
The package of taxes, spending cuts and privatisations has angered many Greeks, with thousands taking to the streets as part of a 48-hour national strike protesting against the bill.
Parliament will hold a second vote on Thursday aimed at changing a law allowing the measures to be implemented.
George Papandreou, the Greek prime minister, has said the second bailout will be roughly equal a previous package last year.
Papanderou expelled a Greek ruling party deputy who voted against the austerity packagae.
The five-year austerity package will allow Greece to secure a second bailout of $17bn of emergency loan funds on top of last year's $157bn bailout.
Clashes outside parliament
The vote took place as clashes between police and protesters broke out outside parliament, with the booms of stun grenades and tear gas resonating across the square outside the building.
Riot police fired volleys of tear gas at swarms of young men who were hurling rocks and other debris as well as setting fire to rubbish containers.
Police with truncheons occasionally charged the demonstrators, but pulled back just as quickly.
As stun grenades boomed and flashed, many members of the crowds jeered and booed.
Most of the anti-government protesters who marched to the square stayed clear of the fighting, but they vented their anger at the political establishment with chants and insults.
Source: Agencies
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