ATHENS (Reuters) -
Greece made last-minute overtures to its international creditors for
financial aid on Tuesday, but it was not enough to save the country from
becoming the first developed economy to default on a loan with the
International Monetary Fund.

             The left-wing Greek government had asked European partners
 for a two-year aid package to cover its financing needs. Later on
Tuesday, Greece's Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis  indicated on a call
with European counterparts that Athens might scrap a controversial July
5th referendum if a deal was reached, according to euro zone sources.

             The flurry of diplomacy was an attempt to bring creditors
back into talks after five months of inconclusive negotiations brought
Greece close to leaving the euro currency bloc.