IMF trying to humiliate: Tsipras

Athens 

 Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras yesterday accused international creditors of trying to "humiliate" the country and called on Europe to reconsider its support for harsh IMF reform proposals.

"The time has come for the IMF's proposals to be judged in public...by Europe," the PM said, adding that the global lender bore "criminal responsibility" for austerity measures that plunged the country into a six-year recession.

Tsipras' outburst, coming as Greece faced pressure to tone down the rhetoric and help reach a deal with its creditors that will avert default at the end of the month, is characteristic of the acrimonious and unpredictable talks that have dragged on for five months.

The negotiations concern the release of the 7.2 billion euros ($8.1bn) in rescue funds remaining in Greece's massive bailout from the IMF, European Union and European Central Bank.

The embattled 40-year-old premier held a round of consultations with rival political leaders earlier yesterday to seek support for a potential compromise deal with just two weeks before the bailout expires.

Also at the end of the month, Greece faces a 1.6 billion euro payment to the IMF, with another 6.7bn euros due to the ECB in July and August, which Greek officials have said the government cannot afford.

An opposition leader who met with Tsipras said the premier had cited "two or three gestures" that he could make to break the deadlock.

This had raised hope that Athens was about to cede ground to try to avert a devastating default, as EU leaders considered holding an emergency summit over the crisis.