国际英语新闻：AIG top employees agree to return big bonuses

NEW YORK, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Fifteen of 20 top employees who received some of the biggest bonuses from American International Group (AIG) have agreed to return them back in full, which is more than 30 million dollars, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said on Monday.

    Cuomo said that he hopes to get more money back for American people, referring to the 165 million bonus paid by the giant insurer on March 15, which caused an uproar because the group just received some 170 billion dollars in government bailout money.

A protestor takes part in a rally in front of an American International Group (AIG) office calling on Congress to take action on employee free choice, health care, and banking reform in Washington, March 19, 2009

So far AIG employees have agreed to return about 50 million dollars in total.

    "I applaud the employees who are returning the bonuses," Cuomo said during a conference call with reporters, "I think they are being responsive to the American people."

Protestors gather out in front of an American International Group (AIG) office during a rally calling on Congress to take action on employee free choice, health care, and banking reform in Washington, March 19, 2009