DHAKA: News that Greece faces a snap election on 25 January has been met with international concern, with the radical left scenting victory.

Alexis Tsipras, leader of Syriza, has vowed ‘austerity will be history’ if his left-wing party wins on 25 January, reports the BBC.

German finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble warned there was ‘no alternative’ to Greece’s reforms.

Greece’s economy has begun to recover after six years of recession but many Greeks want an end to austerity.

On Monday, Greek MPs rejected the presidential candidate nominated by prime minister Antonis Samaras, triggering the snap election.

Stavrov Dimas, a former European commissioner, secured the votes of only 168 MPs, the same number he had won during the second vote last week.

BDST: 1228 HRS, DEC 30, 2014