People shout slogans in front of the White Tower, acity's landmark, in Thessaloniki on July 5, 2015, after early results were declared. (AFP Photo)
Athens:
More than 61 per cent of Greek voters on Sunday rejected fresh austerity demands by the country's EU-IMF creditors in a historic referendum, official results from over 95 percent of polling stations showed.
Thousands of Athenians gathered in central Syntagma Square to celebrate the result, despite warnings that failure to reach a deal with the creditors could trigger a Greek exit from the eurozone.
"I'm so happy," said 37-year old Dima Rousso, adding that she hadn't expected there to be such a clear margin between the 'No' votes and the 'Yes' votes.
"This is Europe's chance to become what it should have been in the beginning," she said.
"Together we have written a bright page in modern European history," an elated Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told the nation in a televised address.
"This is not a mandate of rupture with Europe, but a mandate that bolsters our negotiating strength to achieve a viable deal," he added.
European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker had said a Greek 'No' would be "no to Europe".
The head of the Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, called the Greek 'No' result "very regrettable for the future of Greece".
Thousands of Athenians gathered in central Syntagma Square to celebrate the result, despite warnings that failure to reach a deal with the creditors could trigger a Greek exit from the eurozone.
"I'm so happy," said 37-year old Dima Rousso, adding that she hadn't expected there to be such a clear margin between the 'No' votes and the 'Yes' votes.
"This is Europe's chance to become what it should have been in the beginning," she said.
"Together we have written a bright page in modern European history," an elated Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told the nation in a televised address.
"This is not a mandate of rupture with Europe, but a mandate that bolsters our negotiating strength to achieve a viable deal," he added.
European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker had said a Greek 'No' would be "no to Europe".
The head of the Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, called the Greek 'No' result "very regrettable for the future of Greece".
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