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1st LD Writethru: Greek PM announces resignation, Greece heads to snap general elections

Xinhua, August 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced his government's resignation during a televised address to Greek people on Thursday evening, opening the way to snap general elections.

"The popular mandate I received on January 25th has run its course. Now the sovereign people of Greece must weigh in," the Leftist leader said, explaining his decision to step down after reaching an agreement for a third bailout with international creditors to keep Greece afloat and in the euro zone.

The Greek leader acknowledged that his government did not achieve the deal it wanted when it took power, and made concessions after meeting resistance by lenders, but defended the new program as the best possible opportunity to move forward.

Tsipras did not name a preferred date for the conduction of the early elections during the address.

According to government sources he will suggest September 20 during his visit to the President of the Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos later on Thursday evening to formally submit his own and his government's resignation. Endit