Greece debt crisis: PM Tsipras prevails over rebels at party meeting - Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has defeated rebels in his left-wing Syriza party to push for an end to bailout talks and an exit from euro currency. The dissenters had sought a conference, pushing the government to abandon ongoing negotiations with rescue lenders.

On Friday, Syriza's governing central committee supported a proposal by Tsipras to hold an emergency party conference in September, after the talks have been concluded.

The decision followed a 12-hour meeting by the 200-member central committee, during which party protestors appealed for Greece to return to its national currency.

The decision also came hours before the main negotiations were due to start in Athens with a scheduled visit to the finance ministry by negotiators from the European Central Bank, European Commission, European Stability Mechanism and International Monetary Fund.

Three weeks ago, Tsipras lost his majority in the parliament, when one-fourth of Syriza's lawmakers refused to back new austerity measures. Pro-European Union opposition parties were left to save the bill and have continued to prop up Tsipras' government.

The dissenters argue Syriza has abandoned its principles over the past 6 months under Tsipras. They openly voiced support for Greece to turn its back on the euro as its national currency.

In spite of the heated discussion, Dimitri A. Sotiropoulos, an associate professor of political science at the University of Athens, says at the moment a party split is not likely.