ATHENS: The Greek president proposed Monday forming a technocrat government and called for talks involving all Greek parties, barring the extreme right, the leader of the socialist Pasok party said Monday.

Evangelos Venizelos said after meeting President Carolos Papoulias along with leaders of the conservative New Democracy and radical Democratic Left that the new talks would take place at 1100 GMT on Tuesday.

The talks would seek to form a government of “distinguished and non-political figures,” he said.

Antonis Samaras of New Democracy said: “Everyone must take their responsibilities ... our efforts continue tomorrow.

“Our mandate all together is to build a government,” Samaras said.

Democratic Left head Fotis Kouvelis, who had earlier Monday said there was no chance of a deal if the radical left Syriza party stayed out, indicated he would go to Tuesday's meeting.

NET TV said that the leader of the Greek Independent party, which came fourth in inconclusive May 6 polls, would meet Papoulias before Tuesday's talks, an important development if confirmed.

Talks on Sunday hosted by Papoulias with Samaras, Venizelos and Kouvelis failed to form a government which would implement a painful EU-IMF debt bailout, raising the prospect that Greece would have to face new polls.

The May 6 vote left no party able to command a majority in parliament amid widespread anger at the austerity measures agreed in return for the debt accord.

The talks coincide with a eurozone finance ministers meeting in Brussels where officials insist that Greece must accept the bailout in full or face the consequences, a likely exit from the 17-nation currency bloc.