Greece: 48-hour general strike over new austerity measures

Greek political leaders have struck a deal on further austerity measures, angering protesters but failing to secure a second international bailout.

The minimum wage will be cut twenty two percent, pensions will be slashed and jobs will go in the public sector.

A parliamentary vote will be held on the new package this weekend.

Unions have called a forty-eight hour strike from today in protest.

Athens also plans to finalise an agreement that would see investors swap Greek government bonds for new ones of a lower value.

That alone would shave some one hundred billion euros off Greece’s three hundred and fifty billion debt.

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