Greece’s Samaras: Radical left refuses coalition

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek conservative leader Antonis Samaras says the radical left Syriza party that came second in last week’s inconclusive elections is refusing to join or support any coalition government.

Samaras made the comments after attending a meeting convened by President Karolos Papoulias with the head of Syriza and the socialist PASOK party. Papoulias is making a last-ditch effort to broker an agreement and break the deadlock created by the elections, which left no party with enough parliamentary seats to form a government.

If no deal is reached, the country will have to hold new elections next month, prolonging the political uncertainty and endangering the country’s euro membership.