Portugal political crisis rages again as talks break off

Portugal's main political parties broke off talks on Friday on a "national salvation" pact to ensure an EU/IMF bailout stays on track, leaving it to the president to decide how to proceed.

Political turmoil has already forced Lisbon to request a delay in the eighth review of the bailout by its creditors, which was initially due to start last Monday, until the end of August or early September.

The 78-billion-euro ($102.5-billion) bailout programme and attached austerity policies are associated with the worst recession in Portugal since the 1970s.