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Greece debt: Greeks vote in bailout referendum Greece referendum: Greeks in decisive vote over debt deal
(about 1 hour later)
Millions of Greeks are voting in a crucial referendum on whether to accept the terms of an international bailout.Millions of Greeks are voting in a crucial referendum on whether to accept the terms of an international bailout.
Polling stations opened at 07:00 local time (04:00 GMT), with the first results expected on Sunday evening.Polling stations opened at 07:00 local time (04:00 GMT), with the first results expected on Sunday evening.
After a frenetic week of campaigning, the two opposing sides held huge rallies in Athens on Friday. The government has urged a "No" vote, but opponents warn this could see Greece ejected from the eurozone.
The government has urged voters to vote "No", but opponents warn this could see Greece ejected from the eurozone. Greeks appear evenly divided over the issue, according to opinion polls. Turnout is expected to be high, after a frenetic week of campaigning.
Leaders in the governing radical-left Syriza party have criticised the bailout terms as humiliating. They say rejecting the terms could give them more leverage in talks over the country's massive debt.
But international creditors have warned that a "No" vote could choke off vital funding for Greek banks and lead to "Grexit - a chaotic departure from the common European currency. The "Yes" campaign has framed the vote as a referendum on Greek membership of the eurozone.
Supporters of both sides held rallies in Athens on Friday. Banks stayed shut because of capital controls imposed after the expiry of the current bailout programme.
'Spreading fear''Spreading fear'
At an Athens polling station on Sunday, 80-year-old Anastasia said she had voted "No" because she could no longer survive on her pension. "I've voted for my homeland," she said.
Basil, a 56-year-old in Athens, told the AFP news agency he was voting "Yes" - but would rather the referendum had never been called. "This is very dangerous for Greece," he said.
Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis told local media on Saturday that the EU had "no legal grounds" to throw Greece out of the euro.Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis told local media on Saturday that the EU had "no legal grounds" to throw Greece out of the euro.
On the eve of the referendum, he accused Athens' creditors of trying to sow fear around the vote. He told Spain's El Mundo newspaper (in Spanish): "Why did they force us to close the banks? To instil fear in people. And spreading fear is called terrorism."On the eve of the referendum, he accused Athens' creditors of trying to sow fear around the vote. He told Spain's El Mundo newspaper (in Spanish): "Why did they force us to close the banks? To instil fear in people. And spreading fear is called terrorism."
Meanwhile, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, one of Greece's harshest critics, suggested that if Greece were to leave the eurozone, it might only be temporary.
"Greece is a member of the eurozone. There's no doubt about that," he told German newspaper Bild.
"Whether with the euro or temporarily without it: only the Greeks can answer this question. And it is clear that we will not leave the people in the lurch."
Tight race
Greece's current bailout programme with the European Commission, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European Central Bank (ECB) ran out on Tuesday.
Banks have been shut all week, with limits imposed on cash withdrawals.
Mr Varoufakis said that the banks in Greece would reopen on Tuesday whatever the outcome and that Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras would still reach an agreement with creditors if the result was "No" in the referendum.Mr Varoufakis said that the banks in Greece would reopen on Tuesday whatever the outcome and that Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras would still reach an agreement with creditors if the result was "No" in the referendum.
Meanwhile, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, one of Greece's harshest critics, suggested that if Greece were to leave the eurozone, it might only be temporary.
"Whether with the euro or temporarily without it: only the Greeks can answer this question," he told the German newspaper Bild. "And it is clear that we will not leave the people in the lurch."
Ballot paper questionBallot paper question
"Must the agreement plan submitted by the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund to the Eurogroup of 25 June, 2015, and comprised of two parts which make up their joint proposal, be accepted? The first document is titled "reforms for the completion of the current programme and beyond" and the second "Preliminary debt sustainability analysis"."Must the agreement plan submitted by the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund to the Eurogroup of 25 June, 2015, and comprised of two parts which make up their joint proposal, be accepted? The first document is titled "reforms for the completion of the current programme and beyond" and the second "Preliminary debt sustainability analysis".
Voters must check one of two boxes - "not approved/no" or, below it, "approved/yes"Voters must check one of two boxes - "not approved/no" or, below it, "approved/yes"
Voices from a Greek islandVoices from a Greek island
The question that makes (almost) no senseThe question that makes (almost) no sense
Electoral workers have been racing to get polling stations ready in time, with army helicopters being used instead of boats to rush ballot papers to the islands.Electoral workers have been racing to get polling stations ready in time, with army helicopters being used instead of boats to rush ballot papers to the islands.
Nearly 10 million people are eligible to vote. Opinion polls on Friday suggested that the country was evenly split.Nearly 10 million people are eligible to vote. Opinion polls on Friday suggested that the country was evenly split.
Several European officials have complained in strong terms about Greece's abrupt decision to hold a referendum on the terms of a bailout offer they say is no longer on the table.Several European officials have complained in strong terms about Greece's abrupt decision to hold a referendum on the terms of a bailout offer they say is no longer on the table.
Greece's left-wing Syriza government was elected in January on an anti-austerity platform. Greece's Syriza-led government was elected in January on an anti-austerity platform.
The European Commission, the European Union's executive arm - one of the "troika" of creditors along with the International Monetary Fund and the ECB - 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.
Lenders' proposals: Key sticking pointsLenders' proposals: Key sticking points
Source: European Commission document, 26 Jun 15 (pdf)Source: European Commission document, 26 Jun 15 (pdf)
Greek debt jargon explainedGreek debt jargon explained
Tsipras and his Greek gambleTsipras and his Greek gamble
Are you in Greece? How has the turmoil affected you? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in Greece? How has the turmoil affected you? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Please include a telephone number if you are available to talk to a BBC journalist.Please include a telephone number if you are available to talk to a BBC journalist.
Or WhatsApp us on +44 7525 900971.Or WhatsApp us on +44 7525 900971.