As Greece's creditors line up to oppose the country's demand fora debt restructuring, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's refusal to accept more bailout loans may result in a cashcrunch as early as next month, two people familiar with thecountry's financial position said.

Unless the 15 billion-euro (US$17 billion) limit on short-termborrowing set by Greece's troika of official creditors is raised,the government may run out of cash on Feb. 25, said one of thepeople, who asked not to be named because the figures areconfidential. Three weeks ago, international officials reckonedGreece could hang on until mid-year.

With Greeks yanking their cash from banks and withholding taxpayments, Tsipras would only be able to survive for a few moreweeks by tapping social-security funds and withholding payments tovendors, the person said. By the end of March he may faceexistential choices: accepting a lifeline with conditions he hasconsistently rejected or abandoning the euro.