Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos faced more cliffhanger talks on Monday with European Union and IMF officials and coalition partners as a deadline for crucial debt relief drew closer.

Papademos was to meet representatives from the EU, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund "around midday," and then meet heads of the Greek socialist, conservative, and far-right parties later, the premier's office said.

Greece is trying to wrap up three weeks of tough negotiations to avoid a historic default in mid March that could disrupt the 17-nation eurozone and possibly hobble a global economic recovery.

After five hours of talks on Sunday, Papademos noted agreement on a state savings target of 1.5 percent of gross domestic product, implementation of reforms to lower production costs and a scheme to recapitalise Greek banks.

Media reports said outstanding issues included the size of cuts to complementary pension programmes, a reduction in the minimum wage demanded by the EU and IMF, and the number of civil service job cuts.

Although leaders on the right have begun to speak out against painful austerity measures, the head of an extreme right-wing party, George Karatzaferis, told media there had been some "satisfying" developments.

Greek newspapers were betting on an agreement with the three coalition leaders, Karatzaferis, Georges Papandreou of the socialist party, and conservative Antonis Samaras, which would allow Papademos to wrap up talks with private creditors to cut about 100 billion euros ($130 billion) in debt.

Greece is burdened with a debt total of about 350 billion euros, and must reimburse 14.5 billion euros in bonds on March 20.