Greece debt crisis: Tsipras may resign if Greeks vote yes

Mr Tsipras said a clear vote against austerity would help Greece negotiate a better settlement to the crisis.

Otherwise, he warned, he would not stay in office to oversee more cuts.

Greece's bailout expires on Tuesday, the same day it faces a deadline to repay a €1.6bn (£1.1bn) loan to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The loan is to be repaid by 18:00 Washington time (22:00 GMT).

As the deadline nears, reports in Greece say a last-minute offer was made by creditors on Monday night.

EU leaders have warned that a rejection of the creditors' proposals on Sunday would mean Greece leaving the eurozone - though Mr Tsipras says he does not want this to happen.

Talks between Greece and its creditors broke down last week, leading to Greek banks having to shut this week.

Speaking live on state TV on Monday evening, Mr Tsipras appealed to Greeks to reject the creditors' proposals, saying this would give Greece "more powerful weapons" to take to the negotiating table.

"We ask you to reject it with all the might of your soul, with the greatest margin possible," he said.

He told viewers he did not believe the creditors wanted Greece out of the eurozone "because the cost is immense".

Mr Tsipras also hinted strongly that he would resign if the result of the referendum was a "yes" vote.

"If the Greek people want to proceed with austerity plans in perpetuity, which will leave us unable to lift our head... we will respect it, but we will not be the ones to carry it out," he said.

Tens of thousands of people gathered outside the Greek parliament in Athens on Monday evening in a show of support for the government's proposals.

A rival protest organised by those calling for a yes vote is due later on Tuesday (30/6).

Source: bbc.com