Outgoing World Bank president Roberd Zoellick has warned that financial troubles in Europe could trigger a new global crisis, just at a time that Greece is holding parliamentary elections seen as crucial for the eurozone.

This is also the message that Zoellick will take to the G-20 summit.

"Europe is doing too little, too late," the World Bank has said in an inteview for German magazine Der Spiegel.

As Greek voters go to the polls in elections that could determine the future of the eurozone, Zoellick told the Observer he was advising emerging nations to ready themselves for the consequences of events in the single-currency area, writes the Guardian.

As all eyes focus on Athens, Zoellick said: "Europe may be able to muddle through but the risk is rising." He added: "There could be a Lehman Brothers moment if things are not properly handled."

It is feared that the election of an anti-austerity government could spark the most serious crisis for the eurozone so far.

Unofficial polls suggest the conservative New Democracy party is ahead of the anti-austerity SYRIZA by four percentage points - though as much as 15% of the electorate remains undecided.