European Union and Greek flags flutter

Athens rejected Friday a proposal from its creditors for a five-month 12-billion-euro ($13.4-billion) bailout extension, saying it "cannot be accepted" as the reforms demanded alongside it would be recessionary and the money insufficient.

"The creditors' proposal to the Greek government would require introducing deeply recessionary reforms as a condition for the funding, which is totally inadequate, over the five months period," said a government statement in response to the offer of a cash lifeline.