Greek PM warns of return to fear of 'Grexit' if government falls

Greece's Prime Minister Antonis Samaras delivers a speech during an event of the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Enterpreneurship in Athens December 10, 2014. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Thursday warned the country risked a "catastrophic" return to the depths of its debt crisis if his government fell, raising the stakes before a presidential vote this month.

Greek stock and bond losses accelerated after the comments by Samaras, who is stepping up rhetoric against his archrival -- the anti-bailout Syriza party -- in a bid to win the backing of lawmakers in the presidential vote and avoid early elections.