New Greek Bailout Deal

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde denied on Sunday that IMF staff would push Greece closer to default as a negotiating tactic on a new Greek bailout deal, which she said was "still a good distance away".

Portugal's divided parliament may refuse to approve Lisbon's contribution to new bailout loans for Greece and a European Union aid package to help Turkey deal with the migrant crisis, Prime Minister Antonio Costa said on Saturday.

Greek opposition leaders made zero progress on Sunday as they pressed on with trying to form a new coalition, despite appeals from home and abroad for a rapid move to elections so the country can deal with its simultaneous economic and humanitarian crises.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Saturday called on Eurozone leaders to offer debt relief to Greece, following the approval of a new third bailout deal.

IMF chief Christine Lagarde on Friday welcomed Europe's decision to agree a new 86-billion-euro bailout for Greece, but warned that Athens' debt is still too high.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' Syriza party looked set to split after the leader of its far-left faction called on Thursday for a new movement to fight a bailout deal that lawmakers are expected to vote on in the coming hours.

Hopes were raised that Greece and its creditors would reach an agreement Tuesday on the terms of a third bailout for the debt-ridden nation despite the misgivings of EU paymaster Germany.

Greeks queued outside banks on Monday as they reopened three weeks after closing to stop the system collapsing under a flood of withdrawals, the first cautious sign of a return to normal after a deal to start talks on a new package of bailout reforms.

Chancellor Angela Merkel was to rally German lawmakers today to back talks for a new Greece bailout deal, a day after the parliament in Athens grudgingly agreed to harsh reforms.

French President Francois Hollande on Tuesday rejected claims that Greece had been humiliated by a tough new bailout deal, adding that Paris would make proposals to reinforce Europe's economic governance.

Greeks accused Germany of trying to humiliate them by making tougher demands for a new bailout deal, as the country's fate in the euro zone hung in the balance ahead of a meeting of European ministers in Brussels today.

Talks on a new Greek bailout are "very difficult" but eurozone finance ministers are still working for a deal, Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem said Saturday after the discussions were halted for the night.

The Greek parliament will vote on whether to throw its weight behind the new proposals and two senior figures from the ruling Syriza party sounded an optimistic note on Friday morning on securing the lawmakers' backing.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras requested a two-year rescue deal with the European Union to save the crisis-hit country, just hours before its international bailout expires later Tuesday.

Greek unions planned protests in Athens and other cities on Thursday over the prospect of new austerity cuts demanded by the country's international creditors.

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde denied on Sunday that IMF staff would push Greece closer to default as a negotiating tactic on a new Greek bailout deal, which she said was "still a good distance away".

Portugal's divided parliament may refuse to approve Lisbon's contribution to new bailout loans for Greece and a European Union aid package to help Turkey deal with the migrant crisis, Prime Minister Antonio Costa said on Saturday.

Greek opposition leaders made zero progress on Sunday as they pressed on with trying to form a new coalition, despite appeals from home and abroad for a rapid move to elections so the country can deal with its simultaneous economic and humanitarian crises.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Saturday called on Eurozone leaders to offer debt relief to Greece, following the approval of a new third bailout deal.

IMF chief Christine Lagarde on Friday welcomed Europe's decision to agree a new 86-billion-euro bailout for Greece, but warned that Athens' debt is still too high.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' Syriza party looked set to split after the leader of its far-left faction called on Thursday for a new movement to fight a bailout deal that lawmakers are expected to vote on in the coming hours.

Hopes were raised that Greece and its creditors would reach an agreement Tuesday on the terms of a third bailout for the debt-ridden nation despite the misgivings of EU paymaster Germany.

Greeks queued outside banks on Monday as they reopened three weeks after closing to stop the system collapsing under a flood of withdrawals, the first cautious sign of a return to normal after a deal to start talks on a new package of bailout reforms.

Chancellor Angela Merkel was to rally German lawmakers today to back talks for a new Greece bailout deal, a day after the parliament in Athens grudgingly agreed to harsh reforms.

French President Francois Hollande on Tuesday rejected claims that Greece had been humiliated by a tough new bailout deal, adding that Paris would make proposals to reinforce Europe's economic governance.

Greeks accused Germany of trying to humiliate them by making tougher demands for a new bailout deal, as the country's fate in the euro zone hung in the balance ahead of a meeting of European ministers in Brussels today.

Talks on a new Greek bailout are "very difficult" but eurozone finance ministers are still working for a deal, Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem said Saturday after the discussions were halted for the night.

The Greek parliament will vote on whether to throw its weight behind the new proposals and two senior figures from the ruling Syriza party sounded an optimistic note on Friday morning on securing the lawmakers' backing.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras requested a two-year rescue deal with the European Union to save the crisis-hit country, just hours before its international bailout expires later Tuesday.

Greek unions planned protests in Athens and other cities on Thursday over the prospect of new austerity cuts demanded by the country's international creditors.