Greek conservative leader insists on snap election

The leader of Greece's main conservative party says the country must hold a snap election once the bond swap called for in a deal with Greece's private creditors is completed.

Antonis Samaras, leader of New Democracy, says his party would ask for parliament to be dissolved and would not agree to the extension of the mandate of the coalition government. Elections are normally due in October 2013. 

Samaras has told his lawmakers that they must vote for legislation on more austerity measures so that Greece can get a new bailout deal worth €130bn (£108bn) and, at the same time, reduce its debt burden by about €100bn through the swap deal with private creditors. 

Debate on the legislation and a debt-swapping deal with private creditors begins today. A plenary session will debate and vote on it tomorrow.

AP