<p><br /> Greece has appealed for emergency loans in the first financial rescue of a member of the euro zone.<br /> </p><p><br /> Prime Minister George Papandreou asked for 45 billion euros (£39 billion) from EU partners and the IMF after investors feared a default and pushed borrowing costs to record levels, undermining Athens' efforts to cut its 300 billion euro debt mountain.<br /> </p><p><br /> European markets rallied on the announcement but fell back as investors said the long-awaited bailout, which could be the largest multilateral rescue of a country ever tried, would bring only short-term relief.<br /> </p><p><br /> There were concerns it could force harsher austerity on Greece, deepening its recession, and that it would set a precedent for other euro zone underperformers.<br /> </p><p><br /> Greek riot police fired teargas on Friday at leftwing protesters marching through central Athens against austerity measures.<br /> </p><p><br /> The main Greek public sector union brought nurses, teachers and other public service workers onto the streets of the Greek capital.<br /> </p>
