EU leaders urge Greeks to vote 'yes' to stay in euro

European leaders pleaded with Greek voters to back hotly disputed bailout proposals in a crunch referendum or face leaving the euro as bank closures left many in Greece scrambling to find cash.

In Brussels, an emotional EU chief Jean-Claude bitterly criticised Greek premier Alexis Tsipras, saying he felt "betrayed" by the leftist Syriza government's behaviour and adding it was time to tell voters "the truth".

Other EU leaders including Germany's Angela Merkel France's Francois Hollande and Italy's Matteo Renzi put up a united front, stressing that the vote on the bailout package in Sunday's referendum was effectively a vote on Greece's place in the euro.