Ballots open for critical Greek election

Ballots opened nationwide in Greece on Sunday for a critical general election that will determine whether the debt-laden nation will complete painful austerity reform or otherwise exit the Eurozone. Some 9.8 million Greeks began voting at 0400 GMT in what is expected to be a close contest between the anti-austerity Syriza party and the pro-bailout New Democracy conservative party. Pressure has built on the struggling eurozone member over the past week to choose its next government carefully, with the prospect of a loan freeze that would imperil its weakened economy now seen as a real possibility. European leaders have voiced concern and media in Germany, the eurozone member shouldering most of Greece's multi-billion EU-IMF bailout, have also weighed in with warnings ahead of the election. The Syriza's leader Alexis Tsipras has vowed to tear up the rescue deal that has given Greece a credit lifeline in exchange for steep budget cuts and says he will renegotiate with creditors from scratch.

"Ballots opened nationwide in Greece on Sunday for a critical general election that will determine whether the debt-laden nation will complete painful austerity reform or otherwise exit the Eurozone"New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras wants a more moderate renegotiation of the deal and accuses Tsipras of playing with fire. He has warned that a vote for Tsipras could bring back the drachma currency. No one party is expected to win enough votes to secure a majority in parliament, and the days to come are likely to be dominated by coalition talks. Ballots will remain open until 1600 GMT, with exit polls due immediately afterward and the first indicative results expected after 1830 GMT