IMF's Lagarde tells Greece debt leak is 'nonsense'

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde has dismissed reports that the body is trying to push Greece towards default as "simply nonsense".

"The IMF conducts its negotiations in good faith, not by way of threats, and we do not communicate through leaks," Ms Lagarde wrote in a letter to Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

Her letter comes after Wikileaks published a transcript of IMF officials discussing bailout negotiations.

One says a "crisis" could force a deal.

Greece publicly demanded an explanation after the leak, suggesting the comments meant the IMF could be planning to deliberately prolong debt negotiations until the country was close to running out of money.