Clock Ticking, Greek Far Left Says No Coalition

Greek radical left leader Alexis Tsipras says he will not join or support a pro-bailout coalition government, saying he cannot agree to what he terms a mistake. His continued refusal makes new elections in the crisis-struck country more likely. Tsipras made the comments today after attending a meeting convened by President Karolos Papoulias with the head of the conservative New Democracy and socialist PASOK parties. Papoulias is making a last-ditch effort to broker an agreement and break the deadlock created by the elections, which left no party with enough parliamentary seats to form a government.

If no deal is reached, Greece must hold new elections next month, prolonging the political uncertainty and endangering the country's euro membership. (More Greece stories.)