Greek PM Alexis Tsipras seeks party support for debt reforms

Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras has called on his fractious Syriza party to rally behind the government as time runs critically short to unlock funding from international lenders and avert a debt default.

Tsipras made his plea as Greek negotiators pushed to narrow differences with the EU and IMF creditors over a cash-for-reform deal on which the country’s future in the euro largely depends.

The two sides were expected to continue talks late yesterday to try to reach a deal, in a sign that they were moving closer to a compromise despite fierce protestations about the inadequacy of the other side’s proposals. With the Brussels negotiations entering a decisive phase, European officials took a tough stand, expressing their frustration with Greek negotiating tactics and trying to impress on Athens the depth of the risks that it is running.