Greece scrambles to run referendum it cannot afford as polls on knife edge

Syriza administration estimates vote on country's future in Europe will cost a20m while opposition puts it nearer a120m, as polls say 44.8% yes, 43.4% no

Its banks closed and being drained steadily of cash, its economic and political crises worsening by the day, Greece is scrambling to organise a referendum on Sunday that it can ill afford.

The leftist Syriza-led government of Alexis Tsipras says the cost of distributing ballot papers and paying monitors will be around a20m (14m), but the conservative opposition - citing finance ministry data - puts the final cost at closer to a120m.