Greece seeks EU talks

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has requested a meeting with European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker, a government source said yesterday, after Athens got no help from the European Central Bank to address a cash squeeze.

The government later said in a statement: "The meeting will discuss how Greece will utilise European funds to address the humanitarian crisis and unemployment."

German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung had earlier reported that Tsipras had wanted to see Juncker yesterday, but his request was turned down.

A finance ministry source yesterday said Athens had repaid the International Monetary Fund a first debt instalment of 310 million euros.

Greece's new anti-austerity government last month reversed course and agreed to temporarily extend its EU-IMF bailout, but until Athens wins approval for its plans for a four-year economic recovery blueprint it has no access to funds remaining in the 240-billion euro ($272-billion) rescue programme.

The government has said it will present a first batch of concrete proposals to eurozone ministers on Monday in a bid to break the deadlock.