Greek parliament OKs 2013 budget (4)

The vote on the third austerity package since 2010 had revealed rifts among coalition partners and left the government with 168 seats down from the 178 seats it had won since June's national elections, after a series of "defections" in protest of certain policies.

On Thursday the coalition lost seven MPs. On Sunday the government's cohesion seemed to be on the mend, as most legislators of coalition parties voted in favor.

Meanwhile, for disgruntled recession-hit Greeks the anti-austerity struggle continues. Some 10,000 demonstrators rallied peacefully outside the parliament on Sunday evening.

Rounds of harsh salary and pension cuts have triggered waves of crippling general strikes and protests in the country since 2010. (1 euro= 1.27 U.S. dollars)

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