Greek unions strike amid austerity debate

Trade unions in Greece have kicked off a 48-hour general strike just hours after the Greek Prime Minister, George Papandreou, urged parliament to back tough austerity measures.

Legislative approval in a vote expected on June 29 could free up some 12 billion euros in international loans to Greece.

The labor disruption comes one day after French banks on June 27 gave Athens more time to make payments on the country's heavy debt.

With unemployment already above 16 percent, unions are angry at the new 28 billion-euro austerity program, which is being debated in parliament and, among other things, would slap taxes on minimum wage earners and others in Greece.

Some 5,000 police were expected to be deployed on the streets of Athens to control the protests. Government offices and banks were shut and ferries anchored at ports across Greece. The walkout also halted train services, closed schools and public services, and left hospitals and ambulances operating with emergency staff only.

Papandreou told parliament the austerity package is the only way to get Greece back on its feet.