Alexis Tsipras

Police in Athens fired tear gas at stone-throwing protestors Wednesday as thousands of Greeks walked off the job to join the debt-ridden country's first general strike this year and oppose austerity measures.

The eurozone and IMF saved Greece from bankruptcy on Tuesday in a re-drawn rescue that Greek leaders said marked a new beginning for a country facing further austerity in the midst of recession.

The eurozone and IMF saved Greece from bankruptcy with a re-drawn rescue on Tuesday which Greek leaders said marked a new beginning for their people facing further austerity in the midst of recession.

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Wednesday called on his EU peers to step up efforts to release vital funds to Athens, warning of a threat to the eurozone after finance ministers failed to settle the matter.

Greek lawmakers were locked in a fierce debate Wednesday ahead of a vote on a new austerity package needed to unlock international aid and stave off imminent bankruptcy in the face of fresh social unrest.

Tens of thousands of Greeks poured into the streets on Tuesday as mass strikes paralysed Athens in the latest show of anger over a new austerity bil aimed at securing international aid needed to prevent the debt-crippled nation from defaulting.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives in Greece on Tuesday to support its embattled government amid planned new anti-austerity protests, her first visit since the economic crisis erupted more than two years ago.

Police in Athens were on high alert on Monday for this week's visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, bracing for street protests against the leader of Europe's paymaster who has become a hate figure to many over punishing austerity cuts.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit on Tuesday to debt-strapped Greece may provide a chance to ease tensions born of the economic crisis, but she looks set to receive a tepid welcome from those who blame Germany for the Greek government's draconian austerity policies.

More than 12,000 protesters marched Saturday against fresh austerity measures the Greek government has prepared to win another slice of an international bailout loan.

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras met on Wednesday with Eurogroup chief Jean-Claude Juncker to launch a diplomatic marathon aimed at winning better bailout terms for Greece.

Greece's coalition government breezed through a largely symbolic confidence vote, winning the tough mandate of tackling a two-year-old crisis and keeping the country safely in the eurozone.

Greece's coalition government breezed through a largely symbolic confidence vote on Sunday, winning the difficult mandate of tackling a two-year-old crisis and keeping the country safely in the eurozone.

The coalition government of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras faced a confidence vote Sunday that closes three days of tense debate over ways to both satisfy EU-IMF lenders and offer Greeks a break from austerity.

It is not every day that the opinions of a top-flight financial economist begin to echo those of Greece's new opposition leader, one of the world's top leftist voices at the moment.

World powers urged Greece to move quickly as coalition talks inched towards a possible national unity cabinet after an election win by pro-bailout parties that eased fears of a Greek eurozone exit.

Greece raced to form a coalition by the end of Monday after an election victory by pro-bailout parties eased global fears of a Greek eurozone exit but could still herald a stand-off with creditors.

Greece raced to form a coalition with broad support by the end of Monday after an election victory by pro-bailout parties which eased fears of a Greek eurozone exit and brought relief to world markets.

Greek President Carolos Papoulias said it was "imperative" that political parties agree a new coalition government on Monday amid intense pressure from the international community for quick action.

The head of the conservative New Democracy party raced Monday to form a coalition after an election win which eased fears of a Greek eurozone exit and caused widespread relief on the markets.