ATHENS - Greece's parliament passed on Friday a bill covering many of the government's latest austerity measures.

The bill was approved, Parliament President Filippos Petsalnikos said after the vote.

The Economy Protection Bill bill covers many of the 4.8 billion euros (4.3 billion pounds) worth of budgetary measures proposed by the government earlier this week as it grapples with a 300 billion euro debt pile.

(Writing by Ingrid Melander)