German Chancellor Angela Merkel reacts at a news conference with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, not pictured after their meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, Friday, June 17, 2011. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Union members are marching through central Athens to protest the government's latest austerity measures and plans to sell off state enterprises to appease international creditors.

Greece has seen near-daily protests against the belt-tightening that has slashed salaries and pensions in an attempt to stem its ballooning debt.

Greece was roiled by political and market turmoil in the last week over new spending cuts and tax hikes. Prime Minister George Papandreou ousted his finance minister and appointed his main party rival, Evangelos Venizelos, to the post.

Germany, fearing that Greece would soon default, calmed market fears Friday by retreating from its stance that banks and other private lenders should share the pain of a second bailout for Greece.

Venizelos will face his European colleagues for the first time Sunday at an EU ministers meeting.