The initial meeting between the leadership of the finance ministry and the troika took place in a friendly climate.

As many as six people appeared before an investigating magistrate, four on Tuesday, to testify on charges of embezzling 1.1 million euros from sailors insurance fund Sailors' Home (Oikos Naftou).

The government is trapped in a policy of austerity and destruction dictated by the memorandum, SYRIZA said on Monday, adding that whatever leaks to the press about "so-called negotiations" with the troika of lenders cannot reverse the subordination of Greece to its lenders and the memorandum's commitments.

The exacerbation of political violence in Greece, is not linked to the memorandum being applied to the country, maintains Berlin, going against those that say the rise of extremism is due to the repercussions of applying harsh austerity programs.