(VOVworld)- Greece is facing a new political crisis as the government was faced with a storm of public protest and a looming general strike over its shock decision to shut down state broadcaster ERT.

Source: kenh14.vn

The broadcaster's television and radio stations were abruptly pulled off air late Tuesday and its nearly 2,700 staff suspended as part of the conservative-led coalition government's austerity drive. Many ERT reporters went on 24-hour general strike in Athens and Greece’s 2^nd biggest city, Thessaloniki. Many others posted messages of protests against the Government’s decision on the internet. The Greek government has deployed anti-riot police at ERT offices nationwide to prevent protests. Greece’s Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said the closure of ERT was to protect the public interest and to cut down waste and a perceived lack of transparency. The decision was made as the government imposed sweeping public cutbacks demanded by the debt-laden country's international lenders in return for the massive bailout.