Athens: The Greek cabinet
approved on Friday a draft bill committing the country to reforms
required by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund in
return for a new €130-billion ($171-billion U.S.) bailout Athens needs
to avoid a messy bankruptcy, government officials said.
The move came after Prime Minister Lucas Papademos said the alternative was “catastrophe” for the country.
The bill is scheduled to be voted in parliament on Sunday, which would take Greece one step closer to getting the loan.
The EU also wants Greece to identify
further €325-million of spending cuts and clear commitments by main
party leaders that the reforms will be implemented.
Earlier in the day, police fired tear
gas at masked protesters who threw petrol bombs, stones and bottles at
the start of a 48-hour general strike against austerity cuts in Athens.
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