Govt Survives Confidence Vote

Greece's conservative-led coalition defeated an opposition-sponsored motion to topple the government on Monday as 153 out of the parliament's 300 lawmakers voted against, Reuters reported. 

However, prime minister Antonis Samaras's coalition expelled one Socialist lawmaker who voted with the opposition, reducing the coalition's majority to four, the news agency said.

The confidence vote was put forth by the main opposition Syriza party, which aims to overturn the austerity policies that the Greek government is implementing as a condition of its EU/IMF bailout.

The debate took place during a crucial inspection visit of representatives of "troika" of lenders, who are in Athens to check its progress in meeting bailout targets before they approve the release of an up to 5.9 billion euro loan tranche.