Greece exits the painful four-year bailout program and austerity after the deal clinched with euro zone creditors on Friday, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Saturday.

He warned, however, Greek people that despite the achievement of the extension of the international lifeline for four more months in return of reforms, more difficulties awaited Greece ahead in efforts to overcome the debt crisis.

"We won a battle, but not the war ... We achieved much, but a long and difficult path lies ahead of us," Tsipras said in a televised address.

"Yesterday we made an important step, leaving behind austerity, the memoranda and the troika," he stressed.

After two weeks of negotiations with euro zone partners Greece agreed to a bridging deal which extends the program expiring on Feb. 28 to May under strict conditions. Endit

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