Greeks Strike For 3rd Time This Year

BBC News reports:

Greek police have fired teargas at protesters outside parliament as MPs prepared to debate new austerity measures required for the EU and IMF bail-out package.

Demonstrators who broke off from a strike rally in Athens responded by throwing yoghurt and stones.

Prime Minister George Papandreou faces the risk of a revolt in his Pasok party over the austerity package.

He has proposed a unity government to pass the measures, state TV reports.

He is seeking support for a new austerity programme of 28bn euros (£24.6bn; $40.5bn) in cuts to take effect from 2012 to 2015.

Thousands are taking part in a general strike, the third in Greece this year.

Ports, public transport and banks have been badly disrupted as the main public- and private-sector unions go out on strike.

State-run companies have also joined the walkout, while hospitals are only offering emergency care. However, airports are operating normally after air traffic controllers called off their strike.

A top credit agency has cut Greece's rating, making it the least credit-worthy nation out of 131 countries it monitors.

The Greek government said the downgrade by Standard & Poor's - from B to CCC - ignored its efforts to secure funding.