Greek finance ministry, customs workers strike

[February 17, 2010]  ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Hundreds of striking finance ministry and customs employees held a protest rally in Athens Wednesday, as Prime Minister George Papandreou prepared to meet opposition leaders and host a Cabinet meeting to discuss Greece's financial crisis.

Greek unions have been opposing the new Socialist government's harsh austerity measures, which were imposed in an effort to pull the country out of its worst debt crisis in decades -- one that has seen its deficit swell to a massive 12.7 percent of economic output.

European finance ministers warned Athens on Tuesday that it would have to impose even tougher budget cuts if its current austerity program can't reduce the deficit to 8.7 percent this year. Athens has until March 16 to report back to the EU on its progress.

[Associated Press]

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