Greece's New Democracy seeks bailout coalition

The head of Greece's New Democracy party began talks to form a government on Monday after winning an election that sets him the daunting task of imposing punishing austerity measures in a near-bankrupt economy while containing rising social tensions.

Party leader Antonis Samaras was due to meet Evangelos Venizelos, the head of the Socialist PASOK party, after he received a mandate to form a government from Greek President Karolos Papoulias.

"There is a categorical imperative to form the government," Papoulias said before giving the mandate to Samaras.