Greece, creditors hit impasse on debt

ATHENS, Greece – Greece and its creditors publicly blamed one another for an impasse in bailout talks Wednesday, on the eve of a eurozone finance ministers’ meeting billed as key to their outcome.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras lashed out at rescue lenders for demanding pension cuts and got support from thousands of Greeks who hit the streets in Athens to protest against any further austerity measures.

“If Europe insists in this incomprehensible option, if its political leadership insists, then they must bear the cost of developments that will not be beneficial for anyone in Europe,” he said after meeting in Athens with Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann.

Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis was defiant ahead of Thursday’s meeting of finance chiefs from the eurozone.

Greece needs to get more loans from its creditors before June 30.

Associated Press