Greek deputy foreign minister resigns: reports ( EURUSD ) (by MarketWatch)
FRANKFURT (MarketWatch) -- Greece's deputy foreign minister resigned Friday to protest tough new austerity measures demanded by the euro zone and International Monetary Fund in return for a second bailout of the debt-strapped country, according to several news reports. Marilisa Xenogiannakopoulou, a member of the majority socialist PASOK party in the unity government of Prime Minister Lucas Papademos, is the sixth minister to resign over the last two days, Reuters reported. The Greek parliament is expected to vote as soon as Sunday on the austerity measures after euro-zone ministers demanded they be ratified before signing off on the 130 billion euro ($172 billion) rescue package that Greece needs to avoid a likely default in mid-March.