Many Greeks have expressed their anger over their politicians’ failure to finalise terms for the 130-billion euro bailout.

The sticking point is a demand for cuts in supplementary pensions worth around 300-million euros. Some in Athens now believe the country’s fate is in the hands of politicians in Brussels.

One shopper said: “They (politicians) don’t know where we’re headed. That’s the only thing that’s certain. What our politicians do will depend on those abroad, our partners.”

“The hard part is having to wait. Everyone’s waiting and this in itself increases stress and anxiety in general,” said another man.

Such frustration seems set to spread. Unions have called another 48-hour general strike from Friday over planned job cuts.