Holding financial speculators responsible for the economic crisis, which dragged his country into a debt-mud, Greek Prime Minister Georges Papandreou asked the US administration to crack down on the speculator groups.

Papandreou called on the Obama administration to impose a stricter control over hedge funds and exchange trade, claiming speculators are harming his country’s economy.

The budget deficit of Greece stands at 12.7%, which is four times higher than the 3% limit set for the Euro-zone countries.

Meanwhile, demonstrators keep protesting austerity measures as the Greek government is continuing to pass them to reduce its substantial budget deficit.

The communist labor trade union staged a rally in Athens, yesterday.

The rally of trade unions, which criticizes harsh measures claiming it will impose a heavy burden on people who live on wages, were also joined by many woman organizations as it was the 8th of March World Women’s day.

The new austerity measures also crippled the public support to the government.

The two major leading trade unions of the country will stage a 1-day general strike on March 11, Thursday.