Spain to raise taxes for wealthy

MADRID: Spain's prime minister says taxes will be raised for high-income earners to help chip away at the country's deficit.

Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero says most Spaniards agree with him that a special effort can be expected from those better off as the government enacts austerity measures like cutting the salaries of civil servants and freezing pensions.

Zapatero gave no details of what his tax plans are, but said any increase would not affect the middle class.

He spoke at a news conference Wednesday during an EU meeting with Andean countries.