Greece names top judge as caretaker PM

Greece yesterday named its top judge as caretaker prime minister to organise early elections expected next month, the fifth in the crisis-hit country in six years.

President Prokopis Pavlopoulos said he had chosen Vassiliki Thanou, the head of Greece's Supreme Court and the first woman to assume the post.

Mother-of-three Thanou, 65, is known for firing off an emotional letter to European Commission chairman Jean-Claude Juncker in February, protesting that austerity cuts were "annihilating" the Greek people.

Thanou, who holds a degree in European law from France's Sorbonne university, was to take her oath of office later and her administration will be sworn in today, the president's office said.

The date for Greece's general election is to be officially announced by the end of the week, but it is likely to be scheduled for September 20.

Outgoing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has ruled out forming a national unity government should he fail to win a outright majority in the snap elections triggered after he resigned last week.

Tsipras called for the fresh vote on August 20 after suffering a major rebellion in his hard-left Syriza party over Greece's huge new international bailout, its third in five years.