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AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis
An elderly man watches last night's unrest in Athens after parliament approved the austerity bill.
# Greece
Greek government passes crucial vote
Athens has to pass austerity package before being given access to the next part of its €110bn bailout fund.
THE GREEK government has won a crucial majority in support of the implementation of a five-year austerity package which aims to cut €28bn from the state’s budget.
Yesterday, the parliament agreed in principle to the austerity package, while riots broke out in the streets of Athens in protest over the measures. More than a hundred people were injured in the violence and police fired tear gas to break up the crowds.
Passing legislation for the austerity plan means the Greek government will be given access to the next tranche of its €110bn bailout package.
The EU and Greece’s international creditors warned that the country would have to pass the measures to avoid default. Commissioner Olli Rehn said there was simply no Plan B for Greece to avoid default without passing the unpopular plan.
In photos: Athens burns as riots seize the Greek capital >
