The Greek parliament today passed an austerity bill that will allow the country to receive a joint European Union- International Monetary Fund emergency loan, dpa reported. Lawmakers said 172 members of the 300-seat parliament approved the bill, which needs to be endorsed in a second vote later in the day before it can become law. The severe austerity measures, which include slashing salaries and pensions as well as increasing taxes, will be in exchange for a 110- billion-euro (160 billion dollars) loan. The bill was passed just as thousands of demonstrators marched through central Athens towards parliament.
