IMF walks out of Greece bailout talks

Lender says its negotiating team are going home to Washington due to a lack of progress in narrowing key differences with Athens

The International Monetary Fund dramatically pulled out of talks with debt-stricken Greece on Thursday after it accused Athens of failing to compromise over labour market and pension reforms.

The Washington-based lender of last resort said its team of negotiators had quit talks in Brussels after reaching a stalemate and would be returning to Washington.

The Greek government has to be, I think, a little bit more realistic. It is very obvious that we need decisions, not negotiations."