Greece made a small interest payment to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) yesterday, but European lenders dashed hopes for a cash-for- reforms deal before a more crucial, bigger instalment Athens must pay next week.

Greece has obtained “stunning evidence” to support its massive claims for Second World War reparations from Germany, the country’s defence minister said.

Greece’s parliament passed a crucial austerity bill in a vote so close that it left the coalition government reeling from dissent.