Spain's PM denies Greek counterpart's claim that Spain, Portugal are out to "overthrow" govt

MADRID – Spain's prime minister has responded angrily to his Greek counterpart's claim that Spain and Portugal have formed "an axis of forces" trying to overthrow Greece's government.

Speaking Sunday in Andalusia, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said neither Spain nor Portugal were "responsible for the frustration" that Greece's new government led by the Syriza party had generated.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras had singled out the Iberian countries as "aggressive European conservative forces" whose plan was "the wear and tear of our government" and its overthrow.

Rajoy countered by saying that Syriza had "promised the Greeks something they knew that they would not be able to deliver."

Rajoy also said that Spain, despite its own financial crisis, had aided Greece to the tune of "more than 26 billion euros ($29 billion)."