Greece's Parliament on Thursday ratified a draft bill formally requesting activation of a eurozone-IMF support mechanism for the country, which is expected to reach 110 billion euros, although four deputies' positions outside "party lines" led to their expulsion from their respective Parliamentary groups.

Following lengthy addresses by the prime minister and four other political party leaders, 172 deputies -- from ruling PASOK party and the small right-of-centre Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS) -- voted in favour of the legislation, whereas three PASOK deputies voted "present". Voting against were 121 MPs -- from main opposition New Democracy (ND) party, the Communist Party (KKE) and the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA).

Former foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis, who was a rival against current ND leader Antonis Samaras in a recent internal party leadership race, was expelled from ND's Parliament group after voting in favour of the bill. Samaras announced the ouster of Bakoyannis, the daughter of former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis.

On his part, shortly after the roll-call vote, Prime Minister George Papandreou conveyed a letter to the Parliament president announcing the expulsion of the three PASOK deputies who voted "present", namely, Yiannis Dimaras, Sofia Sakorafa and Vassilis Economou. PASOK's general director, Regina Vartzeli later asked the deputies to relinquish their seats, with Sakorafa refusing and Economou declining to answer, while Dimaras was unavailable.