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Defense Minister Panos Kammenos reiterated on Wednesday his vehement denial of allegations made last month by former Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias, who claimed that Kammenos told a cabinet meeting the government was being financed by US-Hungarian billionaire George Soros.

Conservative New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and cadres in the opposition party's leadership, are planning to make overtures across the political spectrum aimed at expanding the party's traditional base of supporters, Kathimerini understands.

The initiative will reach the "pro-European center-left," associates of Mitsotakis have told Kathimerini.

The government on Friday effectively rejected a proposal by conservative New Democracy to amend voting laws so that Greeks living overseas can participate in general elections. 

Interior Minister Panos Skourletis submitted an amendment to Parliament calling for a committee to be formed that is to examine the issue within the next six months. 

Radio Kontakt Plus is reporting this, adding that the young Serb was taken to the hospital in northern Kosovska Mitrovica with stab wounds.

The victim's brother was also injured when he was attacked with pepper spray, the radio said it learned unofficially.

The leader of the junior coalition partner Independent Greeks (ANEL) reiterated his intention to seek an increased majority for the approval the name deal with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and hit out at New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis and vice president Costis Hatzidakis for their criticism of comments made by European Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Pi

A parliamentary debate on a no-confidence motion against the government, lodged by conservative New Democracy, is likely to become even more acrimonious on Saturday as Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias is expected to submit documents revealing how previous governments handled the Macedonia name talks over the years. 

In the wake of the name deal with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) announced by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Tuesday, the government and opposition New Democracy have been set on a collision course which is expected to culminate in Parliament in coming days.

Conservative New Democracy retains a 10 percentage point lead over leftist SYRIZA, according to the findings of a new opinion poll carried out the firm Pulse for Skai Television.

The survey found that if elections were held now 31.5 percent of respondents would vote for ND compared to 21.5 percent for leftist SYRIZA, which shares power with the right-wing Independent Greeks (ANEL).

The government and the main conservative opposition New Democracy party clashed Thursday over the progress of United Nations-mediated talks aimed at breaking a deadlock between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia over the latter's name.

A new opinion poll carried out by the firm Pulse for Skai puts conservative New Democracy 10 percentage points ahead of ruling leftist SYRIZA.

Asked who they would vote for if general elections were to be held now, 31.5 percent of respondents said ND and 21.5 percent said SYRIZA.