Eurozone finance ministers have cancelled at the last moment a meeting on the new EUR 130 B bailout package for Greece, which was due to take place on Wednesday.

The talks would be replaced by a conference call, as technical work with Greece was still needed in a number of areas, Eurogroup President Jean-Claude Juncker announced as quoted by BBC.

Finance ministers had not received assurances from leaders of Greek political parties on a program of proposed cuts, Juncker said.

As well as 17 ministers from nations that use the euro, the president of the European Central Bank Mario Draghi and the Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, Olli Rehn, had also been due to attend the meeting.

The latest bailout was agreed in principle by EU leaders in October, conditional on Greece adopting further measures to cut its deficit and restructure its economy.

On Sunday, Greek MPs approved extra cutbacks, but parties had to expel more than 40 deputies for failing to back the bill.

Thousands protested in Athens, where there were widespread clashes and buildings were set on fire. Violent protests were reported in cities across the country.