Greece says not considering referendum on euro

Government spokesman says bill in parliament will permit referenda but not aimed at any particular issue

Greece denied a report on Tuesday that it was considering holding a referendum on the country's membership in the eurozone.
Kathimerini daily wrote on Tuesday, citing unnamed sources, that Prime Minister George Papandreou was considering calling for a referendum on whether Greece should continue to tackle its debt crisis within the eurozone or by exiting the single currency.
The government has long said it was planning a referendum on political reforms but has repeatedly denied that it would concern the country's euro membership.
Asked if the referendum would be about staying in the eurozone, deputy government spokesman Angelos Tolkas said: "No. We haven't discussed such an issue, definitely not."
He said the government had put to parliament on Monday a bill aimed at allowing the country to hold referenda but without specifying any issue.
"Yesterday we tabled a bill about referenda ... but we have not discussed anything more than holding a referendum."