Top court judge appointed caretaker PM before elections

Greece's top Supreme Court judge was sworn in as caretaker prime minister on Thursday to lead the country to elections next month, ending a week of political deadlock after former prime minister Alexis Tsipras resigned.

Vassiliki Thanou and her new interim government will remain in place at least until parliamentary elections are held, expected to be on Sept 20. She is an opponent of austerity who has argued against wage cuts for judges and court officials.

"I'm especially happy because I'm receiving the first woman prime minister in the history of the Greece, and this is an important step," Tsipras told Thanou at a handover ceremony at the prime ministerial mansion.