Greece's new Government dramatically escalated its battle with the country's international creditors on Saturday, refusing to meet EU and IMF officials and rejecting fresh loans offered for February.
Athens had been promised another 7.2 billion euros in funds from the European Union, the IMF and and the European Central Bank if it completed reforms required by its lenders by February 28. But hardline Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said that despite warnings Greece would shortly run out of money, his government preferred to do without the instant fresh cash, and instead renegotiate the entire bailout package.