Greece looks to be heading for a repeat election as the country's three biggest parties appear unable to agree over an EU-IMF bailout.

The leaders of conservative New Democracy, the Socialists and Syriza, a radical leftist party that rejects the terms of the rescue plan, held talks with Greek President Karolos Papoulias.

Three attempts to form a government ended in failure last week.

EU leaders admit that failure to adhere to the terms of the bailout could see Greece leave the eurozone.

Socialist leader Evangelos Venizelos appealed to the "logic and patriotism" of his counterparts and called on them strike a deal.

He said that he held some hope of forming a government despite the meeting's dead end.

But Alexis Tspiras, the leader of Syriza, rejected any possibility of softening its anti-austerity stance.