Greece's IMF repayment delay smacks of both desperation and defiance

Chances of deal seem increasingly slim after lastminute decision by Athens to delay a300m payment until end of June

You could almost hear the gritted teeth through which the International Monetary Fund issued its terse statement acknowledging that Athens planned to miss Friday's deadline for making a a300m (219m) debt repayment.

The Washington-based lender, which was always wary about being dragged into Europe's debt crisis, didn't condemn Greece's actions, let alone suggest that deferring the payment was tantamount to default.

Related: Greece delays a300m payment to IMF