Key Left-wing leader Fotis Kouvelis plays down hopes for Greek coalition Democratic Left, which won six per cent of the votes and 19 seats, suggested last week that it would be prepared to join a coalition including the established parties. But it later backtracked, saying it would not be part of any government that did not include the largest anti-bailout grouping, Syriza. "I harbour doubts on whether a deal will emerge...I have very little hope," Mr Kouvelis said. A Democratic Left spokesman angrily attacked claims from Syriza that it had agreed to join an emergency government with the pro-bailout parties. "This is a disgrace, a slander and a lie," the spokesman said. Syriza's leader, Alexis Tsipras, rejected the president's appeal to work with the pro-bailout parties at his meeting yesterday morning. "They are not asking for agreement, they are asking us to be their partners in crime and we will not be their accomplices," said Mr Tsipras, who has become an overnight sensation since leading Syriza - an acronym for Radical Left Coalition - to a surprise second place in last week's vote. Polls show that Syriza would come first in any new election, though its predicted vote share has fallen over the last week. The other leader at the morning talks - Pasok leader Evangelos Venizelos - said he was holding on to hopes that a deal could still be salvaged, but warned time was running out. If a coalition cannot be agreed by Wednesday, the president will be forced to call a fresh election. "Despite the impasse at the meeting we had with the president, I hold on to some limited optimism that a government can be formed," said Venizelos.