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 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.