Greek cabinet backs referendum on debt rescue plan

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou secured the unanimous backing of his cabinet for a referendum on the eurozone debt rescue plan, government spokesman Elias Mossialos said early Wednesday.The cabinet also approved Papandreous decision to hold a vote of confidence in parliament on his government, Mossialos told reporters.Explaining his opposition to calls for an early election, he argued that everything would stop in an election campaign and the country would be dragged to a risk of bankruptcy.Papandreou added that his EU peers had been advised of his plans and will respect and support the countrys efforts. But his plan for the referendum has already drawn opposition from some of his own partys members in parliament.One deputy has defected from the party, while a group of six others on Tuesday called for the prime minister to resign.The defection left the socialists with just 152 deputies in the 300-seat parliament.