ATHENS - A Greek government official says Greece will suspend more civil servants than originally planned and impose new pension cuts as part of new austerity measures to persuade international creditors to continue bailout payments needed to avoid a chaotic default.
The official made the statement today after a 6 1/2 hour cabinet meeting, the outcome of which was being watched closely by nervous global markets.
He spoke on condition of anonymity pending an official announcement.
The new measures include increasing the number of civil servants to be suspended on partial pay to 30,000 this year from 20,000.
Monthly pensions above $1,636 will be subject to new cuts.
