Greece adopts more austerity plans as riot rages

A Greek riot police officer put out the flames when his colleague caught fire from a gas bomb tossed in clashes in Athens. Lawmakers passed a bill yesterday with deep budget cuts. (Lefteris Pitarakis/Associated Press)

By Derek Gatopoulos and Nicholas Paphitis

Associated Press / October 21, 2011

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Ignoring two days of riots outside parliament, Greek lawmakers passed a deeply resented new austerity bill Thursday, caving in to the demands of international creditors in order to avoid a national bankruptcy. The austerity measures won 154-144 in the 300-member parliament despite dissent from a prominent Socialist lawmaker who voted against a key article of the bill. The vote was expected to pave the way for a vital $11 billion payout from creditors within weeks so Greece can stay solvent. Clouds of tear gas choked central Athens ahead of the vote as riot police intervened to separate rival demonstrators who fought with firebombs and stones outside parliament, leaving one man dead and dozens injured.

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