The European Union and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) froze bailout payments to Greece after Athens threw into disarray a new rescue package by calling for a referendum on the measure, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Wednesday, dpa reported.
"We simply say that we can dish out money from European taxpayers ... as soon as rules that have been approved by unanimity are respected," Sarkozy told journalists, speaking alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
If the rules "are not respected, then neither Europe nor the IMF can give out a single cent," Sarkozy said after emergency talks in Cannes with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou.
Sarkozy also said that Papandreou - whose country was due to receive 8 billion euros (11 billion dollars) from the EU and the IMF this month - intends to hold the referendum "on around December 4 or 5."