Athens (AFP) - A proposed referendum on the latest offer of a deal made to Greece by its EU-IMF creditors was approved by a majority in the Greek parliament late Saturday night, according to the assembly's count.

The referendum planned for Sunday July 5 was approved by at least 179 deputies out of a total of 300 lawmakers. Verification of the vote count was underway. In a speech prior to the vote, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said he was confident that "the Greek people will say an emphatic no to the ultimatum" by the country's creditors.