Support Fund for Greece: Greeks encouraged donating in support of dealing crisis

Greece has urged citizens to make charity contributions into a national fund in support of Government efforts to deal with a fiscal crisis.

Parliament will open a bank account in which native and expat Greeks can make donations, parliament speaker Filippos Petsalnikos said.

"There aren't just tax dodgers in Greece," Mr Petsalnikos said. "An overwhelming majority of citizens have a sense of honour, principles and love for their fatherland."

The initiative for the Support Fund for Greece comes after the Government announced an additional 4.8 billion euro ($7.2 billion) austerity package, including a freeze on pensions, cuts in public servants' pay and an increase in taxes on fuel, cigarettes and alcohol.