New protests erupt in Greece in run-up to austerity vote

People are gathering at Athens’s Syntagma Square in front of the Greek parliament building on Wednesday in a continuation of protests against austerity measures to be voted on later in the day.

On Tuesday, thousands of people marched the streets of Athens in protests against the austerity plan.

Greek riot police on Tuesday had to use tear gas against a group of protestors in downtown Athens.

Up to 5,000 police were deployed in Athens as Greek lawmakers gathered to discuss whether to approve austerity measures in exchange for a much-needed $17 billion tranche of the $156-billion EU and IMF bailout package amid reports that the country might need additional aid.

Athens is planning further measures to save some $33 billion through 2015. The country’s total debt has ballooned to $490 billion.

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