Greek parliament OKs 2013 budget (2)

The parliamentary ratification of the two bills had been requested by European Union and International Monetary Fund (IMF) creditors as "prerequisites" for the release of further vital aid to Greece.

Without the 31.5 billion euro (40.4 billion U.S. dollars) disbursement, the country could run out of cash reserves on the forthcoming Friday, Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has warned over October.

However, as EU and IMF lenders still differ on the ways to ensure the sustainability of the Greek sovereign debt and counter the crisis, Monday's Euro Group meeting in Brussels is not due to give the "green light" for the installment, as expected until a few days ago.

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