Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras today talked the junior partners in his fragile coalition government into dropping objections to new spending cuts demanded by the debt-crippled country’s bailout creditors, averting a crisis that could have eventually forced the country to abandon the euro.

Greeks will be spared more austerity measures this year, parties backing the coalition government promised today, although they refused to rule out more painful cuts starting next year.

The heads of three parties supporting Greece’s month-old coalition government are meeting to try and finalise a new round of austerity measures worth 11.5 billion euro (£9.04 billion) demanded by international rescue creditors.

Greece’s new coalition government has vowed to repeal some of the country’s taxes, stop job lay-offs and extend by two years the deadlines for the austerity measures imposed by its international bailout.

The three parties backing Greece's bailout deal have agreed to form a coalition government and are negotiating final details.

Greek conservative leader Antonis Samaras is starting coalition talks after winning elections that follow weeks of uncertainty over the debt-crippled country’s future in the eurozone.

Greece is headed for another month of political paralysis ahead of new elections in mid-June after party leaders failed to agree a coalition government.

Greece will hold a new general election in June after days of talks failed to resolve the country’s political deadlock.

Greece will face another general election, socialist leader Evangelos Venizelos said after talks to agree a new government produced no deal.

Greek leftists rejected a last-ditch proposal by the head of state yesterday to put technocrats in charge of the country, as financial markets slid on speculation that political turmoil would force Athens out of the eurozone.

Fierce political rivalries have kept Greece from resolving its leadership crisis, with an anti-bailout party refusing to return to power-sharing talks.

Efforts to form a new Government in Greece have received a fresh blow after the leader of the moderate Democratic Left party said he would not take part in a coalition without the more radical leftist Syriza party.

Greek political leaders ignored a final plea from the president to form a coalition government to avert a repeat election, pushing the debt-stricken nation closer to bankruptcy and a possible exit from the eurozone.

Greece’s wrangling politicians were locked in last-ditch efforts today to form a coalition government, with chances of a deal appearing slim.

The main parties in Greece must either form a coalition by today, or face a second General Election.

A first attempt to form a new Greek government collapsed in less than a day yesterday after an election which left gaping questions over the country’s ability to avert bankruptcy and stay in the euro.

The removal of Tomás MacGiolla, former President of the Workers Party, will take place in Dublin today.

Some 125,000 flag-waving Turks, mostly women, denounced the Islamic-rooted government today over its plans to lift a decades-old ban on Islamic headscarves in universities – a move the foreign minister said would expand Turkish freedoms.

Former Labour Party leader Ruairi Quinn will become the latest politician to publish his memoirs later today.

NEW Labour leader Pat Rabbitte has appointed Fergus Finlay to be his key adviser.

Early results tonight showed a party with Islamic roots leading in today’s Turkish elections.

By John Downing

More than a quarter of the parliamentary strength of the Labour Party are set to contest the leadership following the resignation of former minister Ruairi Quinn.

BRENDAN HOWLIN emerged as front-runner in the battle for leadership of the Labour Party last night after Ruairí Quinn announced his intention to step down from the helm.

THE leaders of Turkey's three-party ruling coalition agreed yesterday to hold early elections in November, as the government of ailing Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit lost its majority in parliament.

Ailing Turkish Premier Bulent Ecevit's has lost his majority in parliament after six more MPs from the governing coalition resigned.

TURKEY'S former foreign minister launched a new political party yesterday to topple Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, who is fighting to stay in power despite poor health and a mutiny within his cabinet.

TURKISH cabinet ministers, including the deputy premier, quit yesterday moves that will fuel calls for early elections and the resignation of ailing Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit.