ATHENS: Greece`s parliament on Wednesday prepared to vote on tough reforms demanded by eurozone creditors in exchange for a huge new bailout ahead of street protests and a brewing revolt within the ruling Syriza party over the agreement.

The vote was to take place late Wednesday, but the future of the bailout was already in doubt after the International Monetary Fund issued a stark warning that Greece`s creditors will have to go `far beyond` existing estimates for debt relief to stabilise the country`s finances.

The deal has split the ruling radical Syriza party as it includes changes to labour laws, pensions, VAT and other taxes that were rejected by voters in a July 5 referendum.

Struggling to hold his outraged party together, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras appealed to his lawmakers to `preserve unity` in the upcoming vote, the state news agency ANA said.

In a closed-door meeting of Syriza lawmakers, Tsipras said the government `had an obligation to avoid a serious worsening of the humanitarian crisis and economic disaster,` ANA said.

Tsipras`s government suffered its first resignations on Tuesday, with a junior finance minister and a senior economy ministry official walking out in protest.

`Pm not going to vote for this amendment and this means I cannot stay in the government,` said junior finance minister Nadia Valavani.

The parliament in Athens must approve the deal before the 18 other eurozone leaders start negotiations over what Greece is to get in return: a three-year bailout worth up to 86 billion euros ($95bn), its third rescue programme in five years.

French MPs overwhelmingly backed the agreement on Wednesday, with Prime Minister Manuel Valls saying it was the only way out of the crisis.

EU powerhouse Germany`s Bundestag is set to vote for or against the plan on Friday.

Under the deal, eurozone governments will contribute between 40 and 50bn euros, the IMF will contribute another chunk and the rest will come from selling off state assets and from financial markets, a European official said. Tsipras has admitted he `cannot say with certainty` that it will be enough to prevent a so-called `Grexit` until the final bailout agreement is signed.

E C O N O M I C A L L Y VIABLE? An IMF official said the fund would only participate in a third bailout if EU creditors produce a clear plan.

The current deal `is by no means a comprehensive, detailed agreement,` the official said.

Political analysts questioned why the stronglyworded report appeared not to have been taken into account in the agreement.

Tsipras has been forced to turn to pro-European opposition parties to get the reform measures through parliament after a rebellion by some 30 rebel lawmakers in his own party.-AFP