Greek workers protest deficit-cutting plan

The main civil service union and Communist-led federation called the stoppage to protest cuts the government proposed to reduce the 12.7 percent deficit, Radio France Internationale reported.

The deficit-reduction measures under consideration also include increasing the retirement age two years to 63. Other moves to slash the deficit to 2.7 percent in three years would freeze hiring in the public sector and cut supplementary pay by 10 percent, The Times of London reported.

Revolutionary songs could be heard in central Athens and strikers chanted "Traitors! Traitors!" in front of the Greek parliament as travel in and out of the country was near a standstill, the London newspaper said.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou was in Paris Wednesday to discuss plans for a German-led rescue package, the French broadcaster said. European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet was expected to attend a European Union summit Thursday, where ministers were expected to set up a "firewall" to prevent Greece's crisis from spreading to other European countries.

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