THE Greek government has been challenged to “sell” its latest austerity deal to the public and end a “spiral of unsustainable finances”.

EU Economics Commissioner Olli Rehn welcomed a Greek parliament vote to back extra national belt-tightening demanded by Brussels in return for a second massive bail-out worth £110 billion.

Riots in Athens and other cities in response to the vote left stores looted and burned and more than 120 people hurt

But the Commissioner insisted these rioters did not represent the “vast majority” of Greek citizens.

Eurozone ministers meet later this week to decide whether Greece has done enough to qualify for the EU-IMF bail-out Athens desperately needs to avoid bankruptcy in mid-March.

Mr Rehn, speaking in Brussels, stopped short of confirming  the bail-out was now a certainty, pointing out that other conditions had to be met by Greece in addition to parliamentary backing for a tougher austerity package.

“Yesterday’s vote was a ‘crucial step’ towards adoption of the (bail-out) programme,” said Mr Rehn.

“I am confident the other conditions, including the identification of concrete measures of 325 million euro (£270m) will be completed by the next meeting of the eurogroup, which will then decide on the adoption of the programme.”