A protester hurls rocks at police during a violent anti-austerity demonstration in central Athens Feb 12, 2012. Greece's government rushed on Tuesday to find 325 million euros (S$539 million) in budget cuts to satisfy euro zone finance ministers deciding whether to sign off on a rescue package to save the country from a chaotic default. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
ATHENS (REUTERS) - Greece's government rushed on Tuesday to find 325 million euros (S$539 million) in budget cuts to satisfy euro zone finance ministers deciding whether to sign off on a rescue package to save the country from a chaotic default.
Squeezed between sceptical European capitals and deep anger in Greece, political leaders must also produce written commitments to stick to the terms of the 130 billion euro bailout before the ministers meet on Wednesday.
Greek lawmakers endorsed 3.3 billion euros in cuts in wages, pensions and jobs on Sunday despite unrest in the capital, Athens, but left unexplained cuts worth 325 million euros that the European Union and International Monetary Fund want clarified before they sign off on the bailout.
Some of the money is expected to come from deeper cuts in the defence budget, said officials familiar with the talks. The Sunday bill had already trimmed 300 million euros from defence.
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