Greece hit with protests and strikes

ATHENS, Greece, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Public buses, trains, ferries and ships had one thing in common in Greece Saturday: They were not moving due to a 48-hour general strike, observers said.

Hospitals were expected to be operating with only a minimum of personnel, as the General Confederation of Greek Labor and the Civil Servants' Union struck to protest the government's latest austerity budget proposals, Ekathimerini reported Saturday. Only one train line running from Piraeus Kifissia was operating, but under a very limited schedule.

The government announced Thursday that party leaders in Athens had agreed to cuts in pension benefits, a 22 percent drop in the minimum wage and the elimination of tens of thousands of jobs.

The British Broadcasting Corp. reported Saturday that Prime Minister Lucas Papademos' Cabinet also approved the austerity measures, which were mandated by the so-called troika -- the European Central Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the European Union -- in order for Greece to qualify for $170 billion in international aid.

As unions members took part in massive protests, Papademos said failure to secure the loan would result in "uncontrolled economic chaos."

"A disorderly default would plunge our country in a disastrous adventure," he told Cabinet members.

However, five government ministers, including Deputy Foreign Minister Mariliza Xenogiannakopoulou, have resigned over the issue.

The Greek Parliament is expected to vote on the new budget proposals Sunday.