New strike paralyzes Czech Republic
Transport trade unions started a nation-wide hunger strike in the Czech Republic at midnight. They are protesting against budget reforms as well as the government decision to change the retirement age to 65 by 2030.
The trade unions are planning a protest march in Prague which will end by the presidential residence. Public transport will not work for 24 hours in Prague, Brno and other cities.
Resident Vaclav Klaus has cancelled the celebration of his 70th anniversary because of the nation-wide strike.
Greek PM offers to form new cabinet
The general strike in Athens has already produced tangible results. Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou is set to announce a new cabinet in a concessionary move as he seeks support for new austerity measures.
Papandreou announced Wednesday evening that he will form a new government on Thursday and will not resign his office as had been widely anticipated earlier in the day. Yesterday he spoke with the country's main opposition leader, Antonis Samaras, head of the New Democracy Party and offered him to from a coalition government.
Earlier in the day, Samaras had stressed in uncompromising terms that his party would oppose the government's new E28 billion package of austerity measures. Passage of the measures is considered a pre-requisite for a new Greek bailout package from Greece's European Union partners and the International Monetary Fund. Papandreou, for his part, stressed that the opposition's involvement in the government is required for the release of the next tranche of aid - 12bn euros - from the EU and IMF.
Papandreou also announced about his intention to make ministerial shuffle, France-Presse reported.
Athens witnessed some of the most violent protests in more than a year on Wednesday which left 10 people killed during the clashes with police. Another 30 demonstrators were arrested.
The total debt of Greece is estimated at 330 billion Euros.
