Major rallies due in Greece ahead of debt crisis vote

PanARMENIAN.Net - Rival camps in Greece are set to hold major rallies in Athens ahead of Sunday, July 5 crucial referendum on an international bailout terms, BBC News reports.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is expected to be at one rally to support the "No" vote, opposing the terms. EU leaders have warned that a "No" vote could see Greece leave the eurozone.

This has been a lightning campaign. Greece has been in deadlock with its creditors for months but only called the referendum last week.

According to BBC, there has been no referendum campaigning as such - just a few chaotic days as supporters and opponents of the governing Syriza party have jostled for position.

Campaigners are now racing to reach voters before time runs out, with "Yes" and "No" posters vying for space in Athens. The rallies will try to define what the referendum is really about.

Many protesters have already taken to the streets in the past days. Some 6,000 Greek Communist Party supporters held a demonstration on Thursday, calling on referendum voters to cast invalid ballots. Brief scuffles broke out between riot police and a small group of demonstrators.

A "No" rally took place at the city's university, attracting more than 1,000 people.

Despite the campaigning, there is still a chance the referendum may be suspended. Greece's top administrative court, the Council of State, is due to decide on the legality of Sunday's vote - whether it breaches the constitution.

Human rights body the Council of Europe has already said the referendum would "fall short of international standards" if held as planned, citing the short notice given to voters and the lack of clarity in the question to be put to voters.