Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has announced tough austerity measures aimed at cutting his country's soaring public debt.

希腊总理乔治·帕潘德里欧宣布实行严格的经济紧缩措施以削减不断增长的国债。

Mr Papandreou said a public sector¹ pay freeze and fuel duty染料供应量，燃料税 increases were essential because the economic crisis was propelling推动 Greece towards a cliff.

He said the EU was pressuring him to curb抑制，控制 the budget deficit³, which is four times higher than the 3% permitted.

The European Commission will meet later on Wednesday to consider his measures.

Earlier, one of the principal architects建筑师 of the euro warned against any financial rescue of Greece, saying it could destabilise the currency.

The German economist⁴ Otmar Issing told the BBC that after years of violating rules and cheating on its statistics, Greece had to reform its own economy without a bailout紧急救助 from Brussels.

"These reforms which are needed will be blood and tears... but without that, Greece will never overcome the difficulties," he said.

'Unprecedented⁵ crisis'

In a televised address on Tuesday, Mr Papandreou urged the public and his political rivals to support his austerity朴素，紧缩 programme.

"This is an effort to stop the country's course towards the cliff," he said.

"Our country is at the centre of a speculative⁶ attack投机攻击. It is being treated as the weak link of the Eurozone.

"We must act in an imminent迫近的，即将来临的 and efficient manner and it is for that reason that I called on the political parties to support this national effort," he added.

The prime minister said tough measures were needed in the face of面对 such an "unprecedented空前的 crisis", including a 10% cut in wages and spending in the public sector国营部门经济, a higher retirement⁸ age and an increase in fuel prices.

He also pledged to go after tax evaders逃税 and said those who could afford to pay more would be forced to do so.

"The time has come to take brave decisions here too in Greece as others have done in European Union countries," Mr Papandreou said.