Greek PM Tsipras Seeks Support As Vote Looms

The coalition government in Greece may yet need the help of opposition parties to secure support for a new round of reforms crucial to its bailout prospects.

The country's parliament has begun debating the next round of measures it must pass if it is to qualify for talks on a third international bailout .

Anti-austerity protesters gathered in Athens ahead of the vote, which is expected after midnight.

Prime minister Alexis Tsipras has been struggling to convince enough MPs within his Syriza party to back him, guaranteeing the judicial and banking reforms pass.

He urged critics to reconsider their support at a meeting ahead of the debate, arguing their "heroic declarations" had provided "no alternative solution" in the wake of an agreement with creditors last week that pledged discussions on a €86bn rescue in return for unpopular reforms.

Nine members of the government were replaced at the weekend after failing to support the first set of measures .

Tsipras now has just 123 seats, and failure to pass the measures expected by the international creditors may undermine his coalition government further and trigger fresh fears over the country’s future in the euro.

The latest reforms to go before the parliament in Athens include making shareholders and creditors, rather than taxpayers, liable for covering the costs of a failed bank and stripping costs from the courts system.

Mr Tsipras is not expected to lose the vote because of the support of pro-euro opposition parties.

But having to rely on the support of his political opponents could force him to call early elections, just six months after the Syriza-led government came to power.

The party - which remains fiercely against austerity - is said to be split down two lines: those who think Greece should now leave the eurozone and those who think Mr Tsipras has done the best job he can under difficult circumstances.

Now the government has secured a bridging loan to tide it over for a month, pressure is growing on Mr Tsipras to provide emergency support for key services that are struggling under the weight of the financial crisis.

Sky News revealed on Wednesday how children, many abandoned by their parents, faced an uncertain future as refuge homes could close .

The banking system remains in a perilous state, despite receiving a new cash injection from the European Central Bank just hours before the vote.

The ECB has increased emergency liquidity by €900m (£630m), which is the second large cash injection in under a week.

Banks re-opened on Monday after branches were closed for three weeks but a series of capital controls are still in place.

The head of the Athens Chamber of Commerce warned on Tuesday that a string of companies would be forced out of business within weeks because of restrictions on foreign transfers.

In a letter to the finance ministry, Constantinos Michalos said firms which relied on foreign suppliers were unable to pay their bills.

"We must tell you that the vast majority of Greek companies are a step away from being forced to shut down operations," the letter said.

Suppliers are known to have demanded cash up front from many Greek businesses or earlier settlement deadlines.

Sky's Katie Stallard said: "Protesters are lining up in the street outside parliament, joining hands, facing off towards the police.

"The vast majority of people here are peaceful and intent on sending a peaceful, albeit determined message to those inside the parliament chamber."