Greek PM calls for vote against 'blackmail'

ATHENS

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Friday called on voters to reject “blackmail” at Sunday’s bailout referendum.

In an address on national television, Tsipras called for Greeks to vote "No" in the referendum he called last weekend.

"I urge you to say 'No' to ultimatums, blackmail and the campaign of fear," Tsipras said. "Are we going to say 'Yes' or 'No' to the slow death of society?"

Opinion polls suggest Greeks are almost evenly split on whether to vote for or against the austere bailout conditions being demanded by the country’s creditors.

In the short speech, Tsipras said International Monetary Fund (IMF) analysis showing Greece's debt is unsustainable justifies the decision to reject an aid package from creditors that offered no debt relief.

"Yesterday an event of major political importance happened," he told viewers. "The IMF published a report on Greece's economy which is a great vindication for the Greek government as it confirms the obvious -- that Greek debt is not sustainable."

ATHENS

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Friday called on voters to reject “blackmail” at Sunday’s bailout referendum.

In an address on national television, Tsipras called for Greeks to vote "No" in the referendum he called last weekend.

"I urge you to say 'No' to ultimatums, blackmail and the campaign of fear," Tsipras said. "Are we going to say 'Yes' or 'No' to the slow death of society?"

Opinion polls suggest Greeks are almost evenly split on whether to vote for or against the austere bailout conditions being demanded by the country’s creditors.