eurozone country - as its economic woes deepened.

Private creditors accepted losses of around 50 percent as part of the deal.

Exiting its bailout would not bring an end to austerity, but would be a symbolic victory for Greece, which will assume the EU's six month rotating presidency on 1 January, aiming to improve the country's image after more than four years of political and social upheaval.

Ireland became the first eurozone country to exit a bailout in December when it announced that it would not require an emergency credit line from the EU as it returns to financial markets.

Portugal's three year programme is also due to finish in May.

Meanwhile, after six consecutive years of recession, Greece is hoping to reach 0.6 percent growth in 2014.

The country's creditors are less optimisticA word "SHAME" is is spray-painted on the Confederate monument located downtown on East Main Street in Norfolk, Va., on Monday, May 22, 2017. The Norfolk City Council decided in 2015 to keep the monument, despite pressure from a local civil rights group. (Lee Tolliver /The Virginian-Pilot via AP)

A word "SHAME" is is spray-painted on the Confederate monument located downtown on East Main Street in Norfolk, Va., on Monday, May 22, 2017. The Norfolk City Council decided in 2015 to keep the monument, despite pressure from a local civil rights group. (Lee Tolliver /The Virginian-Pilot via AP)

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — The word “shame” has been spray-painted on a Confederate monument in Virginia.

Media outlets report Norfolk police spokesman Daniel Hudson says officers were called to the vandalism site Monday