Greece braces for 48-hour strike

Greece is bracing for a 48-hour general strike across public and private sectors in protest at a proposed new wave of spending cuts that is being discussed in political circles.

Protest marches are planned for the centre of Athens, coinciding with a debate in parliament on the austerity measures, with a vote by MPs due on Wednesday.

Greece must back the measures, and the 2013 budget, to receive the next part of a bailout and avoid bankruptcy.

The latest strike starting, on Tuesday, will include public transport workers, lawyers, air traffic controllers, taxi drivers, journalists and hospital staff. Some transport and media workers took part in the strike on Monday as well.

The BB reports that with the current proposals for a fifth consecutive cut to pensions, an increase in the retirement age and reductions to salaries, benefits and healthcare, the outrage among Greece's population is growing.

Greek ministers say the package should save a total of €13.5 billion by 2016.

Approving the tough reforms and passing the 2013 budget are key to receiving a €31.5 billion instalment from the International Monetary Fund and European Union that has been on hold for months.

However, the Democratic Left Party that is the junior member of the three-party governing coalition, is refusing to back the package.

The second biggest coalition party, the socialist Pasok, is also facing a rebellion by some MPs.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has tried to reassure the public, who have endured repeated rounds of austerity and a five-year recession.

"These will be the last cuts in wages and pensions," he said on Sunday.

"We promised to avert the country's exit from the euro and this is what we are doing. We have given absolute priority to this because if we do not achieve this everything else will be meaningless."