Greek debt: IMF leaves talks amid 'major differences'

Greece's international creditors have raised the pressure on the Athens government, as IMF negotiators left talks in Brussels and flew home.

Major differences remained and they were "well away from an agreement", IMF spokesman Gerry Rice told reporters.

Greece is seeking a cash-for-reform deal, to avoid defaulting on a €1.5bn debt repayment to the IMF. But the European Council president said there was no more time for gambling and the game would soon be over.

"The Greek government has to be, I think, a little bit more realistic,'' Donald Tusk said. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras held talks with European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels on Thursday afternoon but little progress was made.

He also held a late-night meeting with the French and German leaders on Wednesday, after which Mr Tsipras said they had decided to intensify talks.

The EU and IMF are unhappy with the extent of economic reforms the Athens government is offering in exchange for the release of a final €7.2bn (£5.3bn) in bailout funds. Their bailout deal with Greece runs out at the end of June. Mr Tsipras's left-wing Syriza party came to power in January on an anti-austerity platform.

'Happy ending'

IMF's Gerry Rice in Washington said there had been "no progress" in narrowing differences during the talks between IMF and Greek negotiators in Brussels, and both teams had packed up and left for home.

But he stressed that "the IMF never leaves the table. We remain engaged - but the ball very much is in Greece's court right now." He said the sticking points remain pensions, taxes and financing.

(Πηγή: bbc.com)