Greece, EU duel over referendum as crisis deepens

Greek and EU leaders have voiced contradicting messages about the upcoming referendum on the bailout package, as Greece struggled to adjust to shuttered banks, closed cash machines and a climate of rumors and conspiracy theories. 

The latest breakdown in talks between Athens and its creditors has plunged the country deeper into crisis. 
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who blindsided creditors by calling a referendum on the austerity cuts in the aid package proposed by creditors, appeared on television on June 28 night to announce capital controls to prevent banks from collapsing.

Athens issued a decree to close banks until July 6, the day after a referendum on creditors' bailout proposals, with a 60-euro ($65) limit on cashpoint withdrawals. The Athens stock market has meanwhile been shut until July 7.

"Any difficulties that may arise must be dealt with calmness. The more calm we are, the sooner we will get over this situation," Tsipras said, adding Athens had again requested a "prolongation of the (bailout) program," as quoted by Agence France-Presse. 

In response to the referendum proposal, Greece's eurozone partners refused to extend the country's bailout program, which expires on June 30, and the European Central Bank capped its emergency support for the country's banks. 

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker on June 29 urged voters in Greece to support a package of creditors' reform proposals which they will vote on in a referendum.

"I will ask the Greek people to vote 'Yes,'" he was quoted by AFP as saying, adding that one "should not commit suicide because one is afraid of death." 

Juncker said the vote was a "moment of truth" for Greece, whose existing assistance program ends on June 30...