Greek and Spanish Leaders Push For Austerity

Protests in both countries indicate some might have different ideas of how to proceed

Greek and Spanish leaders are advancing new austerity measures even as their countrymen protest against the budget-cutting in the streets of Athens and Madrid.

After weeks of negotiation, Greece's three-party coalition government said Thursday it has reached agreement on a $15-billion plan for more pension and salary cuts and raising the retirement age for workers from 65 to 67. Greece's international lenders had demanded the new austerity package in exchange for releasing another segment of the country's second bailout in the last two years.