Merkel: Greece Implements Reforms at Snail's Pace

Standing amid tear gas, demonstrators return `fire` with riot police, using molotov cocktails and missiles in violent protests at a general strike rally in Athens, Greece, 26 September 2012. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Too many Greek reforms are being implemented at a "snail's pace", German Chancellor Angela Merkel said before joining leaders at an EU summit.

A day after the Troika concluded talks with Greece and an agreement could be announced within days, Merkel made it clear she wants Greece to stand by their commitments and hear the Troika update delivered to the summit by Prime Minister Samaras.

European Union leaders are expected to clear the way for releasing EUR 31.5 B in urgently-needed financial assistance for debt-stricken Greece at their two-day summit which opens in Brussels on Thursday.

The banking union and Spanish bail-out will be high on the agenda of the EU summit in Brussels.

Meanwhile tens of thousands of people rallied across Greece Thursday to protest further tough austerity measures, as a general strike essentially shut down much of the country's transportation network.

The harsh austerity measures already in place have angered many people in Greece, which is in its fifth year of recession and has seen its unemployment rate soar to more than 25%.

About 30,000 people are taking part in demonstrations in Athens Thursday, according to the police.

Rallies are also being staged in mainland cities including Thessaloniki and Patras, as well as on the Greek island of Crete.

Thursday's general strike is the second in a month called by unions who say another round of cuts to wages and pensions are too painful for the Greek people to bear.

Anger over the austerity measures have led to violent street demonstrations in the past.

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