Greece struggles to get approval for bailout conditions

Greece acknowledged yesterday it was having trouble persuading its foreign lenders to accept a plan to save nearly €12bn over the next two years, essential to unlocking the aid payments the country needs in order to avoid bankruptcy.

Hopes that Greece, in its fifth year of recession, might get a quick green light on the package were dashed when inspectors rejected elements after bilateral talks resumed on Sunday.

There appeared to be little progress at a second round of talks yesterday between prime minister Antonis Samaras and the troika inspectors.