(VOVworld)- Greece’s European creditors suspended proposed debt-relief measures for the country after the Greek government surprised them by announcing it would boost welfare benefits for low-income pensioners, a sign of escalating tensions over the country's bailout.

Eurozone Suspends Short-Term Debt Relief for Greece

The moves come as Athens and its international creditors, which includes the eurozone and the International Monetary Fund, are struggling to conclude their latest review of the country’s rescue plan of as much as €86 billion ($92 billion) in loans. The step puts further pressure on Greece’s government, which is considering calling snap elections in 2017 as it grapples with slumping popularity and is losing hope of winning concessions on deeper debt relief or austerity from the eurozone and the IMF.