Written By Unknown on Jumat, 20 Februari 2015 | 20.18
The mayor of Venezuela's capital has been arrested in an armed raid on his office over an alleged coup plot.
Antonio Ledezma, 59, tweeted that his building was being surrounded shortly before intelligence agents broke down the doors and fired shots into the air.
Opposition legislator Ismael Garcia wrote on Twitter: "I just saw how they took Ledezma out of his office as if he were a dog."
In recent days President Nicolas Maduro's government said dissident air force officers had been planning to topple his government in league with opposition leaders - including Ledezma - and the United States.
Later, President Maduro took to television and radio to say that Ledezma would be punished for trying to sow unrest.
President Nicolas Maduro said Ledezma would be punished
It comes amid heightened tensions one year after opposition protests called for the resignation of the president, sparking violence that left 43 people dead.
The country is struggling with severe economic problems and the head of the opposition alliance - Jesus Torrealba - said the arrest shows that dissenting voices are being "outlawed".
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Gallery: Ruckus In Caracas: Venezuela Protesters Clash
Venezuela's National Guard personnel in riot gear stand in line during a protest against the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas
Those gathered on Wednesday demanded the release of Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, one year after he was jailed for allegedly inciting mass protests against the government
These could well prove the most important few days in the euro's existence.
In the corridors and meeting rooms of the Justus Lipsius building in Brussels, Greece and its euro counterparts have been charged with discussing how to keep the struggling nation in the single currency.
Their chances of success seem to be flagging.
Quite how we got here is a complicated story - it involves political and economic mistakes, financial jiggery-pokery, many decades of historical animosity and some big personality clashes.
Uncertainty continues over the Greek debt negotiations
Let's leave that aside for a moment and recall where we stand today.
Briefly: Greece is in dire need of money. The state has a series of debts to repay in March, some to the International Monetary Fund, some to the European Central Bank.
Video:'Confusion And Noise Over Greece'
It can't easily raise cash in the open markets (would you really want to lend to Athens right now?) so it will have to find that money elsewhere.
That means borrowing it from its eurozone colleagues. Greece is of course still receiving bailout support from the so-called Troika lenders (the European Commission, ECB and IMF), so the most straightforward thing would be to extend the existing bailout and withdraw some extra cash from it (there's about €7bn of it left, which would be very helpful right now).
However, extending the bailout would also mean extending the conditions attached to it - austerity, privatisations, labour market and pension reforms.
Syriza, the party which leads the new Greek government, adamantly set itself against that in its election campaign. It also said it would refuse to co-operate with the Troika in future.
That leaves it in a sticky place. Its finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, has spent most of the past few weeks attempting to persuade his European counterparts to lend Greece some cash, but to do it as a "bridging loan" rather than as an extension of the "current programme".
That might seem like a mere terminological distinction - and in one sense it is. But underlying the terminology are real differences.
Signing up to the "current programme" again would mean obeying those hated conditions. A "bridging loan" of some sort, on the other hand, could have some discrete conditions of its own. Though some of these might be uncomfortable, they would at least be of Greece's new government's own making.
Video:Greeks Hope For Bailout Solution
The problem is that Greece's creditors are reluctant to let the country off all those conditions they set when lending them money.
For one thing, Greece has already been forgiven a chunk of its debts in 2012; the interest rates and maturities of its debts have been stretched out way into the future, making them cheaper to service.
For another, those conditions were not merely there as punishment - they were there to make the economy more healthy in the future.
Raising retirement ages, removing archaic protections on employees, privatising nationalised industries - those are precisely the kinds of Thatcherite reforms many other countries had to go through long ago, and are reaping the rewards of today.
Then there's the politics: German voters are becoming increasingly disenchanted with the idea of funding a poor creditor elsewhere whose own people seem to hate them.
The Spanish government is desperate that Syriza doesn't succeed, for fear of encouraging its people to vote for their own upstart leftist anti-austerity rival party, Podemos. The Irish would be furious if a country was given special treatment they were denied.
These countervailing forces mean getting an agreement, either today or this weekend or in the coming months, will be very difficult. And, as if things couldn't already be more difficult, the process has also been waylaid by some personal histrionics.
Video:Greek Bailout: The Key Numbers
The Greek negotiators have been unpredictable in the extreme - openly leaking bundles of documents, flagrantly disregarding the long-established rules of negotiations and publicly criticising their counterparts.
"These people are crazy," said one eurocrat when the talks broke down the last time, on Monday night. "They're totally crazy."
One can only assume yet more craziness to come in the next hours and days. The latest developments, on Thursday, included a letter from the Greek authorities which seemed to offer massive compromises on its position - including an extension of the bailout in some guise, and Troika supervision.
That was then dismissed abruptly by the Germans, who derided it as a "Trojan horse" gambit.
All of which threatens to make today's negotiations particularly awkward.
Meanwhile, hanging over all of this is the question of whether Greece will have money to pay its bills next month, whether it defaults, and, ultimately, whether it can stay in the euro.
The World Health Organization has approved a rapid test for the Ebola virus which can deliver a diagnosis in just 15 minutes.
In what could be a breakthrough for bringing the epidemic in West Africa to an end, the test kits will be deployed to countries affected by Ebola within a matter of weeks.
Although less accurate than traditional tests, which can take anywhere between 12 and 24 hours, this kit does not require electricity - making it ideal for examining patients in remote areas.
During rigorous trials conducted by the WHO, the ReEBOV Antigen Rapid Test correctly identified 92% of those infected with Ebola, and 85% who were free of the virus.
The health agency has said this new testing kit should be followed up with a laboratory test wherever possible.
Video:Ebola: Schools Reopen In Liberia
Meanwhile, the UN's Mission for Ebola Emergency Response has praised Liberia's progress in slowing down the spread of the virus - but warned against complacency as the number of new patients continues to fall.
Ebola has killed more than 3,800 people in Liberia since December 2013 - but now, students are returning to their schools after they were closed for six months.
In Sierra Leone, an investigation is under way into how money meant to fight Ebola was used. Out of $5.75m (£3.75m) received in funding, a third was spent without invoices and receipts being saved.
Video:Ebola Nurse 'Happy To Be Alive'
Doctors, government officials and businesspeople now must answer to the Anti-Corruption Commission, which wants an explanation of where the cash went.
The continuing stand-off between the eurozone and Greece over its debt could lead to a "full blown crisis", George Osborne has warned.
The Chancellor made his comments as eurozone finance ministers prepare for crunch talks this afternoon on whether to extend the EU loan programme to Greece.
The discussions - which have been delayed by an hour - will centre on Athens' bid for more cash over six months but without strict austerity conditions attached.
Negotiations have been continuing behind the scenes in advance of the meeting in Brussels today, which the eurogroup had set as a deadline for a deal.
A member of the Greek team, Elena Panaritis, told Sky News it was clear the country's creditors wanted Greece to bleed and politics had got in the way of economics.
It has been suggested there is now 80% agreement on the Greek plan - which the eurozone's paymaster, Germany, had previously dismissed as a "Trojan horse, intending to get bridge financing and in substance putting an end to the current programme".
Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras told Reuters on Friday he was "certain" his government's request would be accepted despite Berlin's objections and called for a "historic political decision" to seal a deal.
He insisted his nation had done "everything possible".
Video:'Confusion And Noise Over Greece'
His anti-austerity government is seeking a compromise as it runs the risk of running out of cash and defaulting on its debts without agreement by the end of the month.
It has ruled out the prospect of any deal under the terms of its previous rescue because of its mandate from the Greek people who swept the anti-austerity Syriza party to power last month.
The formal Greek request pledged to honour all Greek debts and not take unilateral action that would undermine agreed fiscal targets.
Video:How Would World React To Grexit?
The government of Alexis Tsipras blames the conditions attached to its €240bn (£178bn) bailout of hampering the country's recovery and leading to a deterioration of living standards.
Unemployment remains at more than 25%.
On Monday, the government rejected a eurozone plan to extend its current bailout commitments, describing it as absurd.
Written By Unknown on Kamis, 19 Februari 2015 | 20.18
Russia A 'Real And Present Danger' To NATO States
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A Russian 'Bear' intercepted by the RAF in October (Pic: Crown)
There is a "real and present danger" Russia could repeat its covert campaigns in the Crimea and Ukraine to destablise former Soviet bloc countries, the Defence Secretary has warned.
Michael Fallon said NATO must be ready for Russian aggression against alliance members including Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
He warned the action could involve using irregular troops, cyber attacks and inflaming tensions with ethnic Russian minorities.
"NATO has to be ready for any kind of aggression from Russia, whatever form it takes. NATO is getting ready," he said.
Mr Fallon added that he was worried about Russian President Vladimir Putin's "pressure on the Baltics".
Last night RAF jets intercepted a Russian Tu-95 bomber off the coast of Cornwall. The incident comes two weeks after jets were scrambled to see off a similar Russian plane which flew down the English Channel off the coast of Bournemouth.
Mr Putin's behaviour is 'unacceptable', the Defence Secretary said
"It is the first time since the height of the Cold War that has happened and it just shows you the need to respond each time he does something like that," said Mr Fallon.
Sky's Defence Correspondent Alistair Bunkall said: "They came down the west coast of Ireland and were met by RAF typhoons which had been scrambled from RAF Coningsby.
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Gallery: Nov 1: RAF Redirects Russia Bombers
Typhoon fighter jets were scrambled to intercept Russian military 'Bear' bombers for the second time in a week, it has emerged (Pic: MoD)
The aircraft were were sent up from RAF Lossiemouth on Friday, 31 October, to escort the Soviet-era Tupolev Tu-95 aircraft (Pic: MoD)
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On Wednesday, 29 October, RAF Typhoon fighter jets intercepted another two Russian bombers over the North Sea (Pic: MoD)
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This image taken by one of the RAF fighters during the 29 October incident shows another Typhoon tailing the Russian aircraft (Pic: MoD)
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The intercepts come amid what NATO described as an "unusual level of activity". (Pic: Norwegian army)
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"These aircraft regularly 'buzz' British airspace; not coming into British airspace, because that would be a violation, but coming very close. This is a game, they did it thousands of times during the Cold War.
"There have been three times as many of these flights coming close to European airspace recently. It's a game Russia plays but its playing it because it's being more aggressive."
David Cameron has urged Europe to tell Russia it faces economic and financial consequences for "years to come" if it continues to destabilise Ukraine.
"Those Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine, they are using Russian rocket launchers, Russian tanks, Russian artillery, you can't buy this equipment on eBay.
Video:Ukrainian Troops Leave Debaltseve
"It hasn't come from somewhere else, it's come from Russia and we know that.
"There's a temptation for every European country to say 'Let's go on trading exactly as we have done with Russia, let's leave responsibility for what is happening in Ukraine to someone else and let's turn away'. I am afraid that would be a terrible mistake."
Meanwhile, Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko has demanded the release of all Ukrainians taken prisoner in the conflict, including those captured in the town of Debaltseve.
During phone calls to Vladimir Putin, Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande he added that the rebel seizure of Debaltseve this week had been contrary to ceasefire agreement they reached last week.
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Gallery: Ukraine Troops Leave Debaltseve
Pro-Russian separatists take position near the eastern Ukrainian city of Uglegorsk, 6 kms southwest of Debaltseve
Pro-Russian rebels stationed in the eastern Ukrainian city of Gorlivka, Donetsk region, launch missiles from Grad launch vehicles
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Ukrainian military leaders have claimed pro-Russian rebels have launched mortar attacks on the village of Shyrokine about 30km (19 miles) from the coastal town of Mariupol and are building up their forces in the region.
"There is no attempt to seize our positions up to now. The rebels are bringing up reserves," the spokesman said.
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Russia A 'Real And Present Danger' To NATO States
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A Russian 'Bear' intercepted by the RAF in October (Pic: Crown)
There is a "real and present danger" Russia could repeat its covert campaigns in the Crimea and Ukraine to destablise former Soviet bloc countries, the Defence Secretary has warned.
Michael Fallon said NATO must be ready for Russian aggression against alliance members including Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
He warned the action could involve using irregular troops, cyber attacks and inflaming tensions with ethnic Russian minorities.
"NATO has to be ready for any kind of aggression from Russia, whatever form it takes. NATO is getting ready," he said.
Mr Fallon added that he was worried about Russian President Vladimir Putin's "pressure on the Baltics".
Last night RAF jets intercepted a Russian Tu-95 bomber off the coast of Cornwall. The incident comes two weeks after jets were scrambled to see off a similar Russian plane which flew down the English Channel off the coast of Bournemouth.
Mr Putin's behaviour is 'unacceptable', the Defence Secretary said
"It is the first time since the height of the Cold War that has happened and it just shows you the need to respond each time he does something like that," said Mr Fallon.
Sky's Defence Correspondent Alistair Bunkall said: "They came down the west coast of Ireland and were met by RAF typhoons which had been scrambled from RAF Coningsby.
1/7
Gallery: Nov 1: RAF Redirects Russia Bombers
Typhoon fighter jets were scrambled to intercept Russian military 'Bear' bombers for the second time in a week, it has emerged (Pic: MoD)
The aircraft were were sent up from RAF Lossiemouth on Friday, 31 October, to escort the Soviet-era Tupolev Tu-95 aircraft (Pic: MoD)
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On Wednesday, 29 October, RAF Typhoon fighter jets intercepted another two Russian bombers over the North Sea (Pic: MoD)
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This image taken by one of the RAF fighters during the 29 October incident shows another Typhoon tailing the Russian aircraft (Pic: MoD)
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The intercepts come amid what NATO described as an "unusual level of activity". (Pic: Norwegian army)
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"These aircraft regularly 'buzz' British airspace; not coming into British airspace, because that would be a violation, but coming very close. This is a game, they did it thousands of times during the Cold War.
"There have been three times as many of these flights coming close to European airspace recently. It's a game Russia plays but its playing it because it's being more aggressive."
David Cameron has urged Europe to tell Russia it faces economic and financial consequences for "years to come" if it continues to destabilise Ukraine.
"Those Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine, they are using Russian rocket launchers, Russian tanks, Russian artillery, you can't buy this equipment on eBay.
Video:Ukrainian Troops Leave Debaltseve
"It hasn't come from somewhere else, it's come from Russia and we know that.
"There's a temptation for every European country to say 'Let's go on trading exactly as we have done with Russia, let's leave responsibility for what is happening in Ukraine to someone else and let's turn away'. I am afraid that would be a terrible mistake."
Meanwhile, Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko has demanded the release of all Ukrainians taken prisoner in the conflict, including those captured in the town of Debaltseve.
During phone calls to Vladimir Putin, Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande he added that the rebel seizure of Debaltseve this week had been contrary to ceasefire agreement they reached last week.
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Gallery: Ukraine Troops Leave Debaltseve
Pro-Russian separatists take position near the eastern Ukrainian city of Uglegorsk, 6 kms southwest of Debaltseve
Pro-Russian rebels stationed in the eastern Ukrainian city of Gorlivka, Donetsk region, launch missiles from Grad launch vehicles
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Ukrainian military leaders have claimed pro-Russian rebels have launched mortar attacks on the village of Shyrokine about 30km (19 miles) from the coastal town of Mariupol and are building up their forces in the region.
"There is no attempt to seize our positions up to now. The rebels are bringing up reserves," the spokesman said.
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Video:Ukraine Gun Battle Caught On Camera
Sky News has obtained exclusive video of a prolonged gun battle between pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian government troops close to the besieged eastern town of Debaltseve.
It was shot by a television crew who were with rebel forces and interviewing a prisoner of war when the sound of heavy gunfire erupts nearby.
The rebels are then filmed using assault rifles to shoot through windows before some open fire outside.
At least one fighter attacks the pro-Kiev forces with rocket propelled grenades.
The footage emerged as hundreds of Ukrainian troops pulled out from Debaltseve following battles with pro-Russian forces.
Separatist forces claim to have taken control of Debaltseve
Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko has said his soldiers had left in a "planned and organised withdrawal" from the strategically important area.
A Russian TV station showed separatists hoisting their flag over a building as they seized the railway hub in defiance of a ceasefire brokered by France and Germany.
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Gallery: Ukraine Troops Leave Debaltseve
Pro-Russian separatists take position near the eastern Ukrainian city of Uglegorsk, 6 kms southwest of Debaltseve
Pro-Russian rebels stationed in the eastern Ukrainian city of Gorlivka, Donetsk region, launch missiles from Grad launch vehicles
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Pro-Russian separatists patrol a street in the eastern Ukrainian city of Makeyevka
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Ukrainian troops pulled out of the besieged flashpoint eastern town Debaltseve after it was stormed by pro-Russian rebels in what the EU said was a "clear violation" of an internationally-backed truce
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President Petro Poroshenko said 80% of units had left the town, in order to comply with the current ceasefire
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Some 2,000 pro-government forces have been fighting there but Mr Poroshenko denied claims the troops were encircled, and said they were leaving with weapons and ammunition.
However, some troops were believed to be trapped in the town, which links the two rebel-controlled regions in the east of Ukraine, Donetsk and Luhansk.
Sky's Stuart Ramsay spoke to a Ukrainian commander who said there were still pro-Kiev troops inside but they had put down their weapons.
At least 22 Ukrainian troops have been killed and over 150 were wounded in the fighting in recent days.
A rebel military spokesman, Eduard Basurin, reportedly told Russian television that more than 300 Ukrainian soldiers had surrendered.
Kiev has admitted that soldiers have been taken prisoner, but has not said how many.
Journalists reported seeing dozens of tanks and vehicles carrying haggard soldiers leaving for the nearby town of Artemivsk.
Video:Ukrainian Army Leaves Debaltseve
One soldier spoke of heavy government losses, while another said they had not been able to get food or water because of the intense rebel shelling.
President Poroshenko went to the front line at Artemivsk to meet soldiers after he ordered the Debaltseve withdrawal.
Praising Ukrainian forces for "really socking it" to the separatists, he said he was going there "for the great honour of shaking hands with our heroes".
The 10-month conflict has left more than 5,000 people dead, and Ukraine accuses Russia of supporting and arming the rebels, a claim Moscow denies.
On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Ukraine to admit defeat in Debaltseve, saying "the only choice" of the troops was to "leave behind weaponry, lay down arms and surrender."
Separatists have reportedly started to withdraw heavy weapons from areas they control in eastern Ukraine where the ceasefire was holding.
The rebels say the agreement negotiated by Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France last week does not apply to Debaltseve.
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Exclusive: Ukraine Firefight Caught On Video
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Video:Ukraine Gun Battle Caught On Camera
Sky News has obtained exclusive video of a prolonged gun battle between pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian government troops close to the besieged eastern town of Debaltseve.
It was shot by a television crew who were with rebel forces and interviewing a prisoner of war when the sound of heavy gunfire erupts nearby.
The rebels are then filmed using assault rifles to shoot through windows before some open fire outside.
At least one fighter attacks the pro-Kiev forces with rocket propelled grenades.
The footage emerged as hundreds of Ukrainian troops pulled out from Debaltseve following battles with pro-Russian forces.
Separatist forces claim to have taken control of Debaltseve
Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko has said his soldiers had left in a "planned and organised withdrawal" from the strategically important area.
A Russian TV station showed separatists hoisting their flag over a building as they seized the railway hub in defiance of a ceasefire brokered by France and Germany.
1/25
Gallery: Ukraine Troops Leave Debaltseve
Pro-Russian separatists take position near the eastern Ukrainian city of Uglegorsk, 6 kms southwest of Debaltseve
Pro-Russian rebels stationed in the eastern Ukrainian city of Gorlivka, Donetsk region, launch missiles from Grad launch vehicles
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Pro-Russian separatists patrol a street in the eastern Ukrainian city of Makeyevka
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Ukrainian troops pulled out of the besieged flashpoint eastern town Debaltseve after it was stormed by pro-Russian rebels in what the EU said was a "clear violation" of an internationally-backed truce
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President Petro Poroshenko said 80% of units had left the town, in order to comply with the current ceasefire
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Some 2,000 pro-government forces have been fighting there but Mr Poroshenko denied claims the troops were encircled, and said they were leaving with weapons and ammunition.
However, some troops were believed to be trapped in the town, which links the two rebel-controlled regions in the east of Ukraine, Donetsk and Luhansk.
Sky's Stuart Ramsay spoke to a Ukrainian commander who said there were still pro-Kiev troops inside but they had put down their weapons.
At least 22 Ukrainian troops have been killed and over 150 were wounded in the fighting in recent days.
A rebel military spokesman, Eduard Basurin, reportedly told Russian television that more than 300 Ukrainian soldiers had surrendered.
Kiev has admitted that soldiers have been taken prisoner, but has not said how many.
Journalists reported seeing dozens of tanks and vehicles carrying haggard soldiers leaving for the nearby town of Artemivsk.
Video:Ukrainian Army Leaves Debaltseve
One soldier spoke of heavy government losses, while another said they had not been able to get food or water because of the intense rebel shelling.
President Poroshenko went to the front line at Artemivsk to meet soldiers after he ordered the Debaltseve withdrawal.
Praising Ukrainian forces for "really socking it" to the separatists, he said he was going there "for the great honour of shaking hands with our heroes".
The 10-month conflict has left more than 5,000 people dead, and Ukraine accuses Russia of supporting and arming the rebels, a claim Moscow denies.
On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Ukraine to admit defeat in Debaltseve, saying "the only choice" of the troops was to "leave behind weaponry, lay down arms and surrender."
Separatists have reportedly started to withdraw heavy weapons from areas they control in eastern Ukraine where the ceasefire was holding.
The rebels say the agreement negotiated by Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France last week does not apply to Debaltseve.
Video has emerged showing NATO fighter jets 'buzzing' a Russian Tu-95 bomber.
The footage shows three RAF Typhoons and at least one French Mirage fighter flying within yards of the Russian plane and broadcast on Russian television channel TV Zvedza, which is owned by the Russian Defence Ministry.
The video was shot from the cockpit of the Russian plane
The time and location of the incident has not been disclosed but based upon the squadron insignia seen on the aircraft, it is believed the video was shot during a close encounter on January 28 when two Russian military planes flew close to UK airspace.
Sky's Defence Correspondent Alistair Bunkall said: "Events of this kind have tripled in recent months but what it shows is one of these events happening from the other side.
Video:Cameron: RAF Can Deal With Russians
"Once we work out when the last time the French and British worked together on one of these we might be able to date exactly when this happened.
"If the Russian bombers were flying from British air space into French air space, or the other way around, they would hand over to each other.
"It is quite fascinating seeing this from the other angle. You can see how close they get to each other and what the British and French would essentially be doing is trying to speak to the Russians and make sure they do not stray into sovereign airspace."
The Ministry of Defence have confirmed the video shows RAF Typhoons from 1 Squadron, 6 Squadron and 11 Squadron.
The video was released as it was revealed RAF jets intercepted a Russian Tu-95 bomber off the coast of Cornwall yesterday evening, and two weeks after British jets were scrambled to see off a similar Russian plane which flew down the English Channel.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: "It is the first time since the height of the Cold War that has happened and it just shows you the need to respond each time he does something like that."
Speaking earlier about the crisis in Ukraine, Mr Fallon said there was a "real and present danger" Russia could repeat its covert campaigns in the Crimea and Ukraine to destablise former Soviet bloc countries.
He added NATO must be ready for Russian aggression against alliance members including Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
David Cameron said the episode demonstrated Britain had the military might to protect Britain.
"When this happens, what we do, we launch our Typhoon aircraft escorting these planes out of the area of UK interest. At no time did the Russian military aircraft cross into UK military airspace.
"This illustrates we have the fast jets, the pilots and the systems in place to protect the United Kingdom.
"The Russians are trying to make a point and we should not dignify it with a response."
The increase in close encounters between Russian military planes and RAF fighters comes amid increased tension between Russia and the West over the war in Ukraine.
Germany has rejected Greece's plan for a crucial loan extension, calling it "no substantial proposal for a solution".
The office of the German finance minister Wolfgang Schauble issued the terse response, just hours after Greece formally lodged its bid for a six-month deal to effectively replace its bailout, due to expire at the end of the month.
German finance ministry spokesman Martin Jaeger added that it amounted to a request "for bridge financing without fulfilling the demands of the (bailout) programme".
The country's new anti-austerity government is seeking a compromise to break the deadlock with European creditors, especially Germany, as it runs the risk of running out of cash and defaulting on its debts without agreement.
It has ruled out the prospect of any deal under the terms of its previous rescue because of its mandate from the Greek people who swept the anti-austerity Syriza party to power last month.
The details of the Greek request were not made public but the Reuters news agency said it had seen a document which suggested Greece had watered down its previous demands.
The letter, purportedly written by Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, pledged to honour all Greek debts and not take unilateral action that would undermine agreed fiscal targets.
The government of Alexis Tsipras blames the conditions attached to its bailout of hampering the country's recovery and leading to a deterioration of living standards.
Unemployment remains at more than 25%.
Video:Greek Bailout: The Key Numbers
On Monday, the government rejected a plan to extend its current €240bn (£178bn) bailout deal, describing it as absurd.
Eurozone finance ministers had given Greece until Friday to request an extension of its current austerity and reform programme.
Germany has been particularly vocal in insisting the country sticks to the terms of its commitments.
The formal Greek request was made in a letter to Jeroen Dijsselbloem, head of the eurogroup of finance ministers.
The document was submitted after the European Central Bank (ECB) agreed to increase its emergency funding to Greek banks amid a capital flight from the country.
Depositors are fearful the lack of a deal will force Greece from the single currency and back to the drachma, representing a significant devaluation.
A source told the AFP news agency the ceiling for emergency liquidity assistance - or ELA - to the banks was raised by the ECB from €65bn to €68.3bn (£50.3bn).
According to the source, the Greek central bank had requested an extension of roughly €10bn.
Written By Unknown on Rabu, 18 Februari 2015 | 20.18
Iraq's ambassador to the UN has asked it to look at claims Islamic State is harvesting human organs as a way of financing its terror campaign.
Bodies with surgical incisions and missing kidneys, or other body parts, have been found in shallow mass graves over the past few weeks, Mohamed Alhakim told the media.
"We have bodies. Come and examine them," he said. "It is clear they are missing certain parts."
A dozen doctors had been "executed" in Mosul for refusing to participate in the practice, he added.
Mr Alhakim accused IS of "crimes of genocide" by targeting certain ethnic groups as he briefed the UN Security Council on the overall situation in Iraq.
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Gallery: Shia Fighters Battle IS In Iraq
Shia fighters, who have joined the Iraqi army to fight against militants of the Islamic State, take part in field training in the desert in the province of Najaf. Continue through for more images
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Video:Fighting Goes On Despite Ceasefire
The capture of the Ukrainian town Debaltseve would represent a critical prize for the pro-Russian fighters.
The town of just over 25,000 people is a communications hub with a railway junction connecting the rebel strongholds of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Everything going in and out of the region passes through Debaltseve.
Take it, and the separatists have a supply route to and from their key strongholds for food, fuel and ammunition.
So while the ceasefire is being observed elsewhere in eastern Ukraine, fighting has intensified in Debaltseve and the surrounding area.
Rebels began their siege of the town last month.
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Gallery: Ukraine Troops Leave Debaltseve
Ukrainian servicemen ride on military vehicles as they leave an area around Debaltseve, eastern Ukraine
President Petro Poroshenko said 80% of units had left the town, in order to comply with the current ceasefire
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Mr Poroshenko: 'Armed forces together with the National Guard completed an operation for a planned and organised withdrawal from Debaltseve'
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Fierce fighting with pro-Russian rebels has raged around the strategically important town, which links the rebel-controlled regions of Donetsk and Luhansk
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Continue through for more pictures
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Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly sought to delay the ceasefire agreed last week to give separatists the opportunity to capture the area.
Some of the 7,000 Ukrainian troops who were trapped there have now been taken prisoner as militants took control of, they say, 80% of the town.
Both sides claim Debaltseve is on their side of the ceasefire line.
Under the agreement negotiated by the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France, the warring sides were supposed to begin withdrawing their heavy weapons from the front line on Tuesday.
However, they have both failed to do so as the deadline passed.
"We do not have the right to stop fighting for Debaltseve," said rebel leader Denis Pushilin.
"It's even a moral thing. It's internal territory. We have to respond to fire, to work on destroying the enemy's fighting positions."
Video:Mortar Fire Explodes Gas Pipeline
According to the 2001 census, some 80% of the population in Debaltseve are native Russian speakers, while 16% speak Ukrainian.
Many residents have fled - but an estimated 5,000 remain.
"The situation in Debaltseve is catastrophic," Joanne Mariner, a senior crisis response adviser at Amnesty International, told the Kyiv Post.
"I have spoken to many elderly people who are confined to their basements, living in extremely dire, overcrowded conditions, in absolute fear.
"Many told me how they felt completely lost, not knowing what to do. Shelling is constant.
"These people are at the mercy of forces they have absolutely no control over."
Monitors with the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe have tried to enter the town but have reportedly been denied access by the separatists.
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Why Ukrainian Town Is So Crucial In Conflict
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Video:Fighting Goes On Despite Ceasefire
The capture of the Ukrainian town Debaltseve would represent a critical prize for the pro-Russian fighters.
The town of just over 25,000 people is a communications hub with a railway junction connecting the rebel strongholds of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Everything going in and out of the region passes through Debaltseve.
Take it, and the separatists have a supply route to and from their key strongholds for food, fuel and ammunition.
So while the ceasefire is being observed elsewhere in eastern Ukraine, fighting has intensified in Debaltseve and the surrounding area.
Rebels began their siege of the town last month.
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Gallery: Ukraine Troops Leave Debaltseve
Ukrainian servicemen ride on military vehicles as they leave an area around Debaltseve, eastern Ukraine
President Petro Poroshenko said 80% of units had left the town, in order to comply with the current ceasefire
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Mr Poroshenko: 'Armed forces together with the National Guard completed an operation for a planned and organised withdrawal from Debaltseve'
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Fierce fighting with pro-Russian rebels has raged around the strategically important town, which links the rebel-controlled regions of Donetsk and Luhansk
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Continue through for more pictures
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Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly sought to delay the ceasefire agreed last week to give separatists the opportunity to capture the area.
Some of the 7,000 Ukrainian troops who were trapped there have now been taken prisoner as militants took control of, they say, 80% of the town.
Both sides claim Debaltseve is on their side of the ceasefire line.
Under the agreement negotiated by the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France, the warring sides were supposed to begin withdrawing their heavy weapons from the front line on Tuesday.
However, they have both failed to do so as the deadline passed.
"We do not have the right to stop fighting for Debaltseve," said rebel leader Denis Pushilin.
"It's even a moral thing. It's internal territory. We have to respond to fire, to work on destroying the enemy's fighting positions."
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According to the 2001 census, some 80% of the population in Debaltseve are native Russian speakers, while 16% speak Ukrainian.
Many residents have fled - but an estimated 5,000 remain.
"The situation in Debaltseve is catastrophic," Joanne Mariner, a senior crisis response adviser at Amnesty International, told the Kyiv Post.
"I have spoken to many elderly people who are confined to their basements, living in extremely dire, overcrowded conditions, in absolute fear.
"Many told me how they felt completely lost, not knowing what to do. Shelling is constant.
"These people are at the mercy of forces they have absolutely no control over."
Monitors with the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe have tried to enter the town but have reportedly been denied access by the separatists.
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Breaking News: Ukrainian Troops Withdraw From Key Town
