Greek Voters Go To The Polls In Elections That Could Take The UK's Economy To The Brink (PICTURES)

Eurozone Holds Its Breath As Greeks Go To The Polls

Greek voters go to the polls today in elections that threaten the future of the eurozone and could push Britain's fragile economy to the brink.

European leaders fear the ballot, a re-run of a vote held six weeks ago that failed to return a government, could see Greece crash out of the single currency if anti-austerity party Syriza wins.

Unofficial polls put it level with the conservative New Democracy Party, which has told voters they face a choice between keeping the euro and returning to the drachma.

X marks the spot: A woman casts her vote in Athens on Sunday

German chancellor Angela Merkel has warned the failing nation it cannot dodge austerity measures by renegotiating its bailout agreement.

David Cameron, Mrs Merkel and other key EU figures pledged to take the "necessary action" needed to secure global economic stability in a video conference call setting the groundwork to next week's G20 meeting of leading economies in Mexico.

The Greek poll is viewed as such a potential flashpoint in the eurozone's future. The German chancellor, French president Francois Hollande and Italian premier Mario Monti are expected to delay their travel to Los Cabos until tomorrow to be in place to deal with the immediate aftermath of the results.

Greek Elections: Angela Merkel Warns Country Cannot Renegotiate Bailout

Mr Cameron, who will be on a flight to Los Cabos, will be in touch with London via satellite phone.

Mrs Merkel said: "We will have to speak to any government. I can only warn everyone against leaving the currency union. The internal cohesion of the euro zone would be in danger."

Greek men check lists with polling stations in Athens before the general elections

Central banks, including the Bank of England, Bank of Japan and US Federal Reserve, are expected to launch emergency support measures to cushion the blow of an implosion in the eurozone.

Earlier this week, Chancellor George Osborne warned Britain faces dire consequences if Greece leaves the eurozone without an "ambitious" plan to deal with the fallout.

But former prime minister Gordon Brown claimed a "chaotic" exit was becoming more likely regardless of the outcome of the poll.

That would trigger a deep and long recession in the eurozone and possibly beyond, experts predict.

It would fuel a run on the banks with Greeks likely to want to avoid having their euros converted to drachma or their savings frozen.

The same could happen to banks in countries which have lent heavily to Greece, such as France, triggering a domino effect known as contagion, which could spread to banks in non-eurozone countries, including the UK.

Greeks go to the polls:

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