General strike called in Greece over reforms

Greek public services will close down Tuesday and most transport will be disrupted by a new general strike against proposed pension and labor reforms.

The debt-ridden country's two major private and public sector unions bitterly oppose draft legislation that will increase retirement ages and make it cheaper for companies to fire workers.

Parliament will start discussing the proposed reforms Tuesday, in a debate expected to last more than a week. Despite opposition from several of its own lawmakers, the center-left government _ which holds a seven-seat majority in the 300-member house _ is expected to win the final vote.

Greece is caught in a …