Greece raised 1.625 billion euros (2.08 billion U.S. dollars) in a fresh round of treasury bills sale, the Greek Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA) announced on Tuesday.

The six-month treasury bills were sold at an interest rate of 4.9 percent, slightly decreased in comparison to the 4.95 percent in the previous similar sale on Dec. 13.

Initially Greece intended to sell 1.25 billion euros (1.6 billion dollars) worth treasury bills on Tuesday, but the demand was stronger than expected.

Shut out of international markets, monthly treasury bill sales are Greece's sole remaining source of market funding in parallel to the multi-billion euro aid by international lenders.

The debt-laden country is in critical situation, as it has to implement an agreement with European Union/International Monetary Fund lenders on a "haircut" on part of the Greek debt ahead of the March 20 maturity date of 14.4 billion euro (18.42 billion dollars) worth bonds and more austerity and reform measures in order to meet goals and escape default.