Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras steps down with weakening support within

Rebels from Greece's governing left-wing Syriza are to break away and form a new party. Prime Minister and Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras stood down on Thursday, paving the way for new elections. The move came after he lost the support of many of his own MPs in a vote on the country's new bailout with European creditors earlier this month. Greek media reports say 25 rebel Syriza MPs will join the new party, called Laiki Enotita, or (Popular Unity). The party will be led by former energy minister, who was strongly opposed to the bailout deal. A list of MPs joining the party published by the Ta Nea newspaper showed that the parliamentary speaker and former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis were not among its members. Both had opposed a new bailout deal.