希腊新紧缩措施引发工人罢工

Workers in Greece are due to stage a general strike, as the parliament meets to debate new austerity measures.

希腊议会正在讨论实行新的紧缩措施，此举导致工人将举行一场大罢工。

Greece is struggling with the terms of its bail-out package
Demonstrators say they will encircle（包围，环绕） the parliament building in an attempt to prevent MPs from taking part.

Prime Minister George Papandreou is trying to push through fresh policies as part of the conditions for the EU and IMF's bail-out package.

On Monday, Standard & Poor's cut Greece's credit rating, making it the agency's least credit-worthy country.

The Greek government said the downgrade - from B to CCC - ignored its efforts to secure funding.

'Fight the battle'

Activists¹ and unionists plan to gather at Syntagma Square on the front steps of the assembly in central Athens on Wednesday.

Mr Papandreou faces the risk of a backbench revolt over the plans.

One MP defected from Mr Papandreou's PASOK party defected on Tuesday, leaving it with only 155 of the chamber's 300 seats.

"You have to be as cruel as a tiger to vote for these measures. I am not," George Lianis, a former sports minister, said in a letter to parliament's speaker announcing his departure from the parliamentary group.

At least one other Socialist² MP has threatened to vote against the new programme of cuts and privatisation（私有化，民营化） of state assets.

The government has appealed for consensus³ over its proposals, which would see 6.5bn euros (£5.7bn; $9.4bn) worth of tax rises and spending cuts this year.

"Every Greek, particularly the new generation, demands that we fight the battle with all our power, a battle to avoid a disastrous⁴ bankruptcy⁵ which will undermine the future of the country," government spokesman George Petalotis told reporters.

"We are fighting the battle to serve the common good, in the most crucial moment in the country's modern democracy."

The EU and IMF is demanding the measures in return for the release of another 12bn euros in aid next month which Athens needs to pay off maturing debt.