The news their country is likely to avoid defaulting on its debts next month and the euro should remain their currency has been greeted uneasily by Greeks.

Greece’s coalition leaders have once again postponed a crucial meeting on new cutbacks, despite intense international pressure for Athens to bite the austerity bullet if it wants to avoid bankruptcy.

The National Confederation of Greek Commerce has said the econimic crisis has changed Christmas habits in Greece, with two in five shoppers opting for low-budget purchases this year.

Greece is braced for another wave of industrial unrest with the announcement of the first cuts protest since its interim government took over.

GREEK police fired tear gas and battled groups of hooded youths near parliament in a rally against anti-austerity measures which international lenders have demanded to stave off national bankruptcy.

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny has warned that a vote against fresh austerity measures in the Greek parliament next week could trigger all kinds of consequences for the EU and for Ireland.

Greece's beleaguered government will begin taxing minimum-wage earners and encourage local banks to help the state delay debt payments for bonds maturing as late as 2015.

GREECE pledged to push tough new budget cuts through parliament despite mounting labour and social unrest as the new finance minister prepared to meet Athens’ international creditors.

Most public services in Greece ground to a halt and transport was disrupted today as unions staged a new general strike in protest at the government’s introduction of harsh austerity measures intended to keep the debt-ridden country solvent.

Mobs threw stones and fire bombs at riot police as clashes broke out in Athens today during a mass protest over budget cuts.

A general strike halted public transport across Greece today as unions stepped up opposition to tough budget cuts.

Hundreds of protesters clashed with riot police in Athens today smashing cars and hurling petrol bombs during a massive demonstration against the government's austerity measures.

A new general strike hit Greece today, grounding flights and disrupting hospital and transport services as unions protested against freshly approved labour reforms amid painful austerity and rising unemployment.

Greece’s biggest labour union has called a new nationwide strike for next week to protest against proposed reforms to the debt-laden country’s pension and labour systems.

Three people died in a blaze at an Athens bank today during rioting over government spending cuts.

Three people died in a blaze at an Athens bank today during rioting over government spending cuts.

Protesters tried to storm Greece's parliament and hurled paving stones at police today as tens of thousands of outraged Greeks took to the streets of Athens to protest at spending cuts aimed at saving their country from bankruptcy.

European governments and the International Monetary Fund agreed to pull Greece back from the brink of default with €110bn in emergency loans, provided Athens made painful budget cuts and tax increases.

A SENSE of panic was beginning to grip Brussels as Greece warned its protesting citizens it was just one step away from being unable to borrow and eurozone members differed on the solution.

Greece ground to a virtual halt today as workers held yet another general strike in protest at painful spending cuts.

THE Greek parliament approved new spending cuts and taxes yesterday aimed at defusing the country’s debt crisis, while protesters opposed to the measures fought with police outside.

Greece agreed tough new spending cuts today aimed at dealing with its massive debt crisis even as mobs protesting against them fought running battles with riot police in Athens.

Violent protests against planned new spending cuts ripped through Athens today with riot police having to use tear gas against crowds.

Greece’s prime minister, seeking a concrete pledge of European support to ease his country’s debt crisis, will meet a European Union finance chief and German chancellor Angela Merkel today.

A PROTEST march by 50,000 Greeks over planned government cuts to bring burgeoning debt under control ended in violent clashes with police yesterday.

More than 30,000 protesters marched through Athens today as a nationwide strike against government cuts crippled the country.

A nationwide strike hit Greece today crippling public services, grounding flights and closing schools in a demonstration against government cuts brought on by its financial crisis.

MAY DAY protesters clashed with riot police in Germany, Turkey and Greece yesterday while thousands angry at the government’s response to the global financial crisis took to the streets in France.

Greek protesters hung two giant banners off the Acropolis today with slogans calling for mass demonstrations across Europe after days of violence sparked by police shooting dead a teenager in Athens.

A wave of Greek strikes against social security reforms could echo the continuing disputes in France and pose a challenge to a government re-elected just two months ago.