A senior minister in Greece's governing conservatives has conceded defeat to the radical left Syriza party after today's general election.

Greek protesters unfurled banners over the defensive walls of the ancient Acropolis today in protest at harsh new austerity measures as strikes began across the country.

A French women whose husband and daughter are missing on the sunken Sea Diamond cruise ship, angrily rejected claims by Greece’s merchant marine minister that she delayed declaring their disappearance – and may even have lied about their presence on the vessel.