US urges Greece to make 'tough, necessary' reforms

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States on Wednesday urged Greek lawmakers to approve "necessary reforms" to help the whole eurozone, as they geared up for an overnight session on a deeply unpopular austerity bill.

"Today is a big day in Greece," said State Department spokesman Victoria Nuland. "They have important decisions to make today.

"We have all along urged Greece to implement the necessary reforms, to improve the long-term competitiveness of their economy, to make Greece more attractive to investment, and to return the country to growth."

A huge protest outside the Greek parliament turned violent on Wednesday ahead of the late-night vote as demonstrators hurled petrol bombs and police fired tear gas to disperse them.