Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has accused international creditors of trying to "humiliate" the country and called on Europe to reconsider its support for harsh reform proposals of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Tsipras' comments came on Tuesday 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.
The negotiations concern the release of about $8.1bn in rescue funds remaining in Greece's massive bailout from the IMF, European Union and European Central Bank.
"The fixation on cuts...is most likely part of a political plan...to humiliate an entire people that has suffered in the past five years through no fault of its own," Tsipras said.
"The time has come for the IMF's proposals to be judged in public...by Europe."
He also said that the global lender bore "criminal responsibility" for austerity measures that plunged the country into a six-year recession.
The 40-year-old premier held a round of consultations with rival political leaders earlier on Tuesday 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 $1.7bn payment to the IMF, with another $7.5bn due to the ECB in July and August, which Greek officials have said the government cannot afford.
Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said Athens would not bring new reform measures to the table.
"The Eurogroup is not the right place to present proposals which haven't been discussed and negotiated on a lower level before," Varoufakis told Germany's mass-circulation daily Bild.
Tsipras' comments came on Tuesday 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.
The negotiations concern the release of about $8.1bn in rescue funds remaining in Greece's massive bailout from the IMF, European Union and European Central Bank.
"The fixation on cuts...is most likely part of a political plan...to humiliate an entire people that has suffered in the past five years through no fault of its own," Tsipras said.
"The time has come for the IMF's proposals to be judged in public...by Europe."
He also said that the global lender bore "criminal responsibility" for austerity measures that plunged the country into a six-year recession.
The 40-year-old premier held a round of consultations with rival political leaders earlier on Tuesday 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 $1.7bn payment to the IMF, with another $7.5bn due to the ECB in July and August, which Greek officials have said the government cannot afford.
Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said Athens would not bring new reform measures to the table.
"The Eurogroup is not the right place to present proposals which haven't been discussed and negotiated on a lower level before," Varoufakis told Germany's mass-circulation daily Bild.
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