Authorities in western Greece are bracing for a cyclone expected to hit Greece within the next hours, coming from Sardinia.

Police have arrested 2,267 persons for debts to the state since the beginning of the year and the enfd of September 2013, according to Greek police (ELAS).

The troika is taking a hard line in talks with the Greek government over the fiscal gap, estimated at around 1 billion euros, as Athens is remonstrating about the risk of political instability.