Greece Faces Austerity Vote, More Strikes

Deputies are expected to pass the plan, required by the European Union and International Monetary Fund, after the bill passed a first vote on Wednesday, when protests degenerated into street battles between black-clad rioters and police.

But at least two ruling party MPs have said they might vote against one of the bill's provisions, threatening to weaken the government's narrow majority as it fights a debt crisis that is shaking global markets.

Around 20,000 people assembled in front of the parliament by late morning, many wearing surgical masks against the tear gas and pepper spray still hanging in the air from the previous day and carrying banners with slogans such as "Throw them out!"

The 48-hour general strike called by unions representing around half the Greek workforce is one of the largest protests since the start of the crisis two years ago and brought more than 100,000 people to the streets on Wednesday.

The unrest left central Athens covered in smoldering rubbish and lumps of masonry hacked off buildings in a repeat of clashes seen in anti-austerity protests in June.

Early on Thursday, Sofia Giannaka, a potential rebel deputy, indicated she would probably vote in favor of the provision, which suspends some collective pay accords, but she said she would not accept any more major cuts.