Thousands of protesters have demonstrated in the Cypriot capital, Nicosia, to protest against the financially crippled bailout deal with the eurozone

Thousands of protesters have demonstrated in the Cypriot capital, Nicosia, to protest against the financially crippled bailout deal with the eurozone.

A crowd of about 1,500 protesters, led by the opposition communist Akel party, marched towards the presidential palace on Wednesday to show their anger at the bailout deal which delivers a major hit to big bank depositors and will put thousands out of work, AFP reported.

Waving Cyprus and communist flags, the protesters chanted, “Troika out of Cyprus,” in reference to the three creditors -- the European Union (EU), the European Central Bank (ECB), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

"I'm worried about my pension and, as for the future, it is in trouble...," said Andreas Pepetas, 65, an unemployed man among the protesters.

"Nobody knows what the troika will want next," he noted.

Wednesday protests were triggered by a government announcement, saying that access to personal bank accounts would be restricted as of Thursday.

The measures, which are supposed to be in effect for only a week but could be extended, aim at curbing what is nonetheless likely to be a rush to withdraw money when the banks open on Thursday for the first time in nearly two weeks.

Nicosia secured a 10-billion-euro ($13-billion) bailout deal on March 25 from the EU, the ECB, and the IMF, which included a tax of up to 80 percent on deposits of over 100,000 euros in the country's two biggest banks, namely the Bank of Cyprus and Laiki Bank aka Cyprus Popular Bank.

Some economic experts say that the bailout package would save Cyprus from bankruptcy and possibly guarantee its future in the 17-nation eurozone. However, Cypriots have held many demonstrations against the bailout deal, which they say can push the nation into recession.