Thousands protest Denmark's austerity package

COPENHAGEN, Denmark

Tens of thousands of people are demonstrating outside Parliament to protest the Danish government's three-year austerity package.

Trade Union leader Poul Erik Skov Christensen says the center-right minority government's plan did respect social welfare because it cut unemployment benefits from four years to two.

The coalition government received sufficient support last month from a key ally for trimming public spending by 24 billion kroner (US$4.4 billion). Formal approval was expected later in a parliamentary vote.

The package is designed to meet European Union demands to cut budget deficits below 3 percent of economic output by 2013.

Police said 40,000 people attended the peaceful rally.