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| Greek debt crisis: Major rallies due ahead of vote | Greek debt crisis: Major rallies due ahead of vote |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Rival camps in Greece are set to hold major rallies in Athens ahead of Sunday's crucial referendum on an international bailout terms. | |
| Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is expected to be at one rally to support the "No" vote, opposing the terms. | |
| EU leaders have warned that a "No" vote could see Greece leave the eurozone. | EU leaders have warned that a "No" vote could see Greece leave the eurozone. |
| This has been a lightning campaign. Greece has been in deadlock with its creditors for months but only called the referendum last week. | This has been a lightning campaign. Greece has been in deadlock with its creditors for months but only called the referendum last week. |
| 'Rock bottom' | 'Rock bottom' |
| The BBC's Chris Morris in Athens says there has been no referendum campaigning as such - just a few chaotic days as supporters and opponents of the governing Syriza party have jostled for position. | The BBC's Chris Morris in Athens says there has been no referendum campaigning as such - just a few chaotic days as supporters and opponents of the governing Syriza party have jostled for position. |
| Campaigners are now racing to reach voters before time runs out, with "Yes" and "No" posters vying for space in Athens. | Campaigners are now racing to reach voters before time runs out, with "Yes" and "No" posters vying for space in Athens. |
| The rallies will try to define what the referendum is really about, our correspondent says. | |
| One undecided voter, Costas Christoforidis, told AP: "If it's saying 'No' to austerity, then it's a 'No' from me too. But if we are rejecting Europe, I disagree with that." | One undecided voter, Costas Christoforidis, told AP: "If it's saying 'No' to austerity, then it's a 'No' from me too. But if we are rejecting Europe, I disagree with that." |
| Many protesters have already taken to the streets in the past days. Some 6,000 Greek Communist Party supporters held a demonstration on Thursday, calling on referendum voters to cast invalid ballots. | Many protesters have already taken to the streets in the past days. Some 6,000 Greek Communist Party supporters held a demonstration on Thursday, calling on referendum voters to cast invalid ballots. |
| Brief scuffles broke out between riot police and a small group of demonstrators. | Brief scuffles broke out between riot police and a small group of demonstrators. |
| A "No" rally took place at the city's university, attracting more than 1,000 people. | A "No" rally took place at the city's university, attracting more than 1,000 people. |
| Despite the campaigning, there is still a chance the referendum may be suspended. | |
| Greece's top administrative court, the Council of State, is due to decide on the legality of Sunday's vote - whether it breaches the constitution. | Greece's top administrative court, the Council of State, is due to decide on the legality of Sunday's vote - whether it breaches the constitution. |
| Human rights body the Council of Europe has already said the referendum would "fall short of international standards" if held as planned, citing the short notice given to voters and the lack of clarity in the question to be put to voters. | Human rights body the Council of Europe has already said the referendum would "fall short of international standards" if held as planned, citing the short notice given to voters and the lack of clarity in the question to be put to voters. |
| Divisions in Greece have sharpened ahead of the vote. One poll cited by euro2day.gr said 47% of people were leaning toward a "Yes" vote, with the "No" camp at 43%. A previous poll suggested the "No" camp had a shrinking lead. | Divisions in Greece have sharpened ahead of the vote. One poll cited by euro2day.gr said 47% of people were leaning toward a "Yes" vote, with the "No" camp at 43%. A previous poll suggested the "No" camp had a shrinking lead. |
| Mr Tsipras has said that a strong "No" vote will help lead to a "better agreement" with creditors. | Mr Tsipras has said that a strong "No" vote will help lead to a "better agreement" with creditors. |
| "Our efforts are focused on overcoming the crisis as fast as possible, with a solution that preserves the dignity and sovereignty of our people,'' he said. | "Our efforts are focused on overcoming the crisis as fast as possible, with a solution that preserves the dignity and sovereignty of our people,'' he said. |
| But EU leaders have warned that a "No" vote on Sunday may see Greece leave the eurozone, something Mr Tsipras says he does not want to happen. | But EU leaders have warned that a "No" vote on Sunday may see Greece leave the eurozone, something Mr Tsipras says he does not want to happen. |
| His opponents in Greece have said they believe he is making a mistake. | His opponents in Greece have said they believe he is making a mistake. |
| In a speech endorsing the "Yes" campaign on Thursday, former Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis said the world would "consider a 'No' vote to be a withdrawal from the heart of Europe, the first step toward euro exit". | |
| The head of the eurozone group of finance ministers said Mr Tsipras' stance on the referendum was "simply wrong". | |
| And European Parliament President Martin Schulz strongly criticised Greece's negotiating tactics. | And European Parliament President Martin Schulz strongly criticised Greece's negotiating tactics. |
| "My faith in the willingness of the Greek government to negotiate has now reached rock bottom," he told German media on Thursday. | "My faith in the willingness of the Greek government to negotiate has now reached rock bottom," he told German media on Thursday. |
| He added Mr Tsipras was "unpredictable" and accused him of manipulating the people of Greece. | He added Mr Tsipras was "unpredictable" and accused him of manipulating the people of Greece. |
| Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said he would resign if the "Yes" campaign won on Sunday. | Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said he would resign if the "Yes" campaign won on Sunday. |
| But he told the BBC he was confident that a deal would be reached very shortly after the referendum, allowing banks to reopen on Tuesday. | But he told the BBC he was confident that a deal would be reached very shortly after the referendum, allowing banks to reopen on Tuesday. |
| Greece's banks have stayed shut after emergency funding from the European Central Bank (ECB) was frozen, though some branches have reopened to allow pensioners a one-off weekly withdrawal of up to €120. | Greece's banks have stayed shut after emergency funding from the European Central Bank (ECB) was frozen, though some branches have reopened to allow pensioners a one-off weekly withdrawal of up to €120. |
| Withdrawals from cash machines are capped at €60 a day. | Withdrawals from cash machines are capped at €60 a day. |
| 'Comedy of errors' | 'Comedy of errors' |
| The European Commission, the European Union's executive arm - one of the "troika" of creditors along with the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank - wants Athens to raise taxes and slash welfare spending to meet its debt obligations. | The European Commission, the European Union's executive arm - one of the "troika" of creditors along with the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank - wants Athens to raise taxes and slash welfare spending to meet its debt obligations. |
| The IMF on Thursday said that Greece would need €50bn ($55bn) over the next three years to stabilise its finances under the existing, disputed bailout plans. | The IMF on Thursday said that Greece would need €50bn ($55bn) over the next three years to stabilise its finances under the existing, disputed bailout plans. |
| The IMF reached its latest conclusions before talks between Greece and its creditors collapsed last weekend when the government called the referendum. | |
| On Tuesday, the previous eurozone bailout expired, depriving Greece of access to billions of euros in funds, and Athens missed a €1.5bn repayment to the IMF. | On Tuesday, the previous eurozone bailout expired, depriving Greece of access to billions of euros in funds, and Athens missed a €1.5bn repayment to the IMF. |
| The Syriza government was elected on an anti-austerity platform. Mr Varoufakis described the programme that creditors had imposed and wanted to continue imposing on Greece as "a travesty, a comedy of errors". | The Syriza government was elected on an anti-austerity platform. Mr Varoufakis described the programme that creditors had imposed and wanted to continue imposing on Greece as "a travesty, a comedy of errors". |
| Lenders' proposals: Key sticking points | Lenders' proposals: Key sticking points |
| Source: European Commission document, 26 Jun 15 (pdf) | Source: European Commission document, 26 Jun 15 (pdf) |
| Greek debt jargon explained | Greek debt jargon explained |
| Tsipras and his Greek gamble | Tsipras and his Greek gamble |
| Are you in Greece? What are your concerns? Do you have friends and family in the country who may be affected? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. | Are you in Greece? What are your concerns? Do you have friends and family in the country who may be affected? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. |
| If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. You can also tweet your stories to @BBC_HaveYourSay or text 61124. If you are outside the UK, send them to the international number +44 7624 800 100. | If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. You can also tweet your stories to @BBC_HaveYourSay or text 61124. If you are outside the UK, send them to the international number +44 7624 800 100. |
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