Greeks hold anti-austerity rally before Eurogroup meeting

Greek citizens poured into Syntagma Square in Athens and other major cities across the country for symbolic anti-austerity pro-government demonstrations on Wednesday amid mounting fears of a possible impending default.

"Democracy cannot be blackmailed, our lives do not belong to lenders," protesters chanted outside the parliament, as they waved banners reading "We break down austerity."

The gathering was organized through social media after Greece's government failed to reach a debt agreement with international lenders on Sunday, calling for an end to the strict austerity measures imposed over the last five years in the debt-laden country.

After five months of negotiations on the policies that should be implemented in exchange of further international financing, on June 30 Greece faces the risk of failing to repay a delayed loan installment to International Monetary Fund.

In such a case, the country would head to financial meltdown and Grexit.

People of all ages joined the rally to show support to the government one day before another crucial Eurogroup meeting in Brussels and an EU summit next week.

For Thursday, another rally is organized through social media under the slogan "We stay in Europe" in support of Greece's stay in the eurozone.

Seven out of ten Greeks choose to stay in the European common currency zone at any cost, according to the latest survey released this week. Endit