More strikes hit debt-mired Greece

Greece has been hit by another day of strikes and protests as the government pledged to meet its budget goals and avoid default.

Parliament is set to approve an unpopular property tax on Tuesday in an attempt to secure an eight-billion-euro loan from the EU and the IMF.

Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos described the country’s economic situation as a “vicious circle.”

“We as Greeks have to make an even bigger effort, the government has to take and the government has to decide on much tougher measures so that we can achieve our targets,” he said.

Its international creditors have laid down strict conditions before they will offer up any more bailout money.

Ministers have already agreed to trim the size of the country’s public payroll, lower wages, cut pensions and sell off state assets.

That sparked the latest wave of strikes, with civil servants starting a new 48-hour walkout.

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