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Greece's Venizelos promises cuts deal 'within hours' Eurozone states want Greece out, says Venizelos
(40 minutes later)
Greece has promised to "fully clarify" its austerity measures, a day after eurozone chiefs demanded further cuts. Some eurozone countries no longer want Greece in the bloc, Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos has said.
Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos said the "few remaining issues" would be finalised before a conference call with eurozone bosses due at 16:00 GMT. He accused the states of "playing with fire", as Greece scrambled to finalise an austerity plan demanded by the EU and IMF in return for a huge bailout.
An official told the BBC that 325m euros (£270m; $430m) of extra savings had been made with cuts from defence, health and local government budgets. Mr Venizelos promised to clarify the plan before a conference call with eurozone bosses due at 16:00 GMT.
Athens is negotiating a 130bn-euro bailout with the EU and IMF. Greece needs to convince lenders that it will make enough savings, and that its politicians will enact the changes.
Athens is hoping to get a 130bn-euro (£110bn; $170bn) bailout from the EU and IMF.
The deal also includes a provision to write off a further 100bn euros of debt owed to banks.The deal also includes a provision to write off a further 100bn euros of debt owed to banks.
Parliament approved a package of austerity measures on Sunday, but eurozone ministers indicated that more detail needed to be given on the cuts.Parliament approved a package of austerity measures on Sunday, but eurozone ministers indicated that more detail needed to be given on the cuts.
The ministers also insisted that the major Greek political parties committed to implementing the cuts, regardless of who wins a general election scheduled for April.The ministers also insisted that the major Greek political parties committed to implementing the cuts, regardless of who wins a general election scheduled for April.
Reports say both leaders of the two main parties have now signed letters committing them to enacting the changes. Leaders of the two main parties have now signed letters committing them to enacting the changes.
Mr Venizelos said there were "very few remaining issues" with the austerity package. And an official told the BBC that 325m euros of extra savings had been made with cuts from defence, health and local government budgets.
But he also warned that some eurozone countries were "playing with fire". Mr Venizelos said there were "very few remaining issues" with the austerity package and promised to have them "fully clarified" before the conference call.
"There are many in the eurozone who don't want us any more," he said. But he also warned that some eurozone countries were "playing with fire", saying: "There are many in the eurozone who don't want us any more."
Without the bailout, Greece will be unable to pay its debts and will be forced into a default.Without the bailout, Greece will be unable to pay its debts and will be forced into a default.
Its next payment is due on 20 March, and the complex technicalities of finalising the bailout take several weeks even after the politicians have agreed the measures.Its next payment is due on 20 March, and the complex technicalities of finalising the bailout take several weeks even after the politicians have agreed the measures.
But the austerity plan that the EU and IMF have insisted on as a condition of the deal has been hugely unpopular in Greece. But the austerity plan has been hugely unpopular in Greece.
Anger boiled over during Sunday's vote in parliament, when large groups of protesters clashed with riot police and dozens of buildings were set on fire in Athens.Anger boiled over during Sunday's vote in parliament, when large groups of protesters clashed with riot police and dozens of buildings were set on fire in Athens.
But eurozone countries appear to be running out of patience with Greece. And eurozone countries appear to be running out of patience with Greece.
On Wednesday German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble told local radio he wanted to help Greece, but "we are not going to pour money into a bottomless pit", in comments translated by the AFP news agency.On Wednesday German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble told local radio he wanted to help Greece, but "we are not going to pour money into a bottomless pit", in comments translated by the AFP news agency.
And unnamed eurozone officials were quoted suggesting that Greece's latest assurances still may not be enough, because people no longer trusted the country's politicians.And unnamed eurozone officials were quoted suggesting that Greece's latest assurances still may not be enough, because people no longer trusted the country's politicians.
Greece has failed to deliver on many of the promises it made to secure an earlier bailout deal, EU officials say.Greece has failed to deliver on many of the promises it made to secure an earlier bailout deal, EU officials say.