Greece stands defiant as no vote rails against wrenching austerity

Thousands take to Athens streets to celebrate referendum result, many citing personal devastation brought on by spiralling economy as reason for voting no

Democracy in Greece spoke on Sunday and the response was a resounding "no" to demands for more of the excoriating austerity that over five long years has been the price of keeping Europe's weakest economy afloat.

In a referendum seen as the single biggest experiment in people power since the debt-stricken country crashed on the rocks of bankruptcy, 61% of voters rejected the terms of further financial assistance set by creditors at the European Union and International Monetary Fund. Lobbed at the heart of Europe with the force of a rocket launcher, the rejection was a cry of rage.

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