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Greek crisis hangs over IMF talks US urges speedy action on Greece
(about 3 hours later)
The debt crisis in Greece looks set to dominate a meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington. US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has called on the IMF, the EU and the Greek government to act quickly to tackle Greece's debt crisis.
Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou is due to hold talks with IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn and EU economy commissioner Olli Rehn. Mr Geithner asked the IMF and Eurozone countries to put together a package of strong reforms and financial support.
On Friday, Greece asked for an EU-IMF bailout of its debt-ridden economy.On Friday, Greece asked for an EU-IMF bailout of its debt-ridden economy.
Mr Geithner was speaking after talks with IMF and European officials at a meeting of the International Monetary Fund in Washington.
On the sidelines of the twice-yearly meeting, he held talks with Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou, IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn and several EU officials.
"Secretary Geithner encouraged them to move quickly to put in place a package of strong reforms and substantial concrete financial support," said a statement from his office after the talks.
Ahead of the meeting, the Group of 20 big economies said the world was emerging faster than expected from its deep recession.Ahead of the meeting, the Group of 20 big economies said the world was emerging faster than expected from its deep recession.
After talks in Washington on Friday, G20 finance ministers said the pace of the recovery was largely due to the huge amounts of government money pumped into national economies.After talks in Washington on Friday, G20 finance ministers said the pace of the recovery was largely due to the huge amounts of government money pumped into national economies.
Debt dueDebt due
Saturday's focus is set to be on the IMF meeting and consideration of Greece's request for emergency loans totalling 40bn euros ($53bn; £35bn) in the first year. Consideration of Greece's request for emergency loans totalling 40bn euros ($53bn; £35bn) in the first year was set to be a major focus of the talks.
ANALYSIS Andrew Walker, BBC News, WashingtonANALYSIS Andrew Walker, BBC News, Washington
This normally routine meeting of the IMF's main policymaking committee comes just a day after Greece asked the agency and European governments for financial help.This normally routine meeting of the IMF's main policymaking committee comes just a day after Greece asked the agency and European governments for financial help.
The ministers will, in due course, have a key role in approving the terms of any loans Greece gets from the IMF but they cannot do that now. They must wait for IMF and EU officials who are now in Greece to make recommendations.The ministers will, in due course, have a key role in approving the terms of any loans Greece gets from the IMF but they cannot do that now. They must wait for IMF and EU officials who are now in Greece to make recommendations.
Already, though, several of the ministers here have welcomed the decision by the Greek Prime Minister, George Papandreou, to ask for loans.Already, though, several of the ministers here have welcomed the decision by the Greek Prime Minister, George Papandreou, to ask for loans.
They would rather see a rescue than have Greece default on its debts.They would rather see a rescue than have Greece default on its debts.
Nations using the euro would contribute 30bn euros with the rest coming from the IMF.Nations using the euro would contribute 30bn euros with the rest coming from the IMF.
The terms of the loans have not been agreed, but Mr Strauss-Kahn has said the IMF will "move expeditiously" in response to Greece's appeal.The terms of the loans have not been agreed, but Mr Strauss-Kahn has said the IMF will "move expeditiously" in response to Greece's appeal.
Mr Rehn said he thought the EU-IMF package could be completed by early May.Mr Rehn said he thought the EU-IMF package could be completed by early May.
The funds are needed later that month when a large tranche of Greece's debt comes due for renewal.The funds are needed later that month when a large tranche of Greece's debt comes due for renewal.
German officials have said Berlin will do its bit.German officials have said Berlin will do its bit.
But there has been public opposition to funding a bail-out and Chancellor Angela Merkel said any aid would come with "very strict conditions", including a credible savings plan.But there has been public opposition to funding a bail-out and Chancellor Angela Merkel said any aid would come with "very strict conditions", including a credible savings plan.
The Greek government has already taken austerity measures, including cutting government workers' pay, freezing pensions and raising taxes.The Greek government has already taken austerity measures, including cutting government workers' pay, freezing pensions and raising taxes.
The cuts have proved unpopular, prompting strikes and demonstrations.The cuts have proved unpopular, prompting strikes and demonstrations.
There is rising anger at the involvement of the IMF and opposition to the bailout is increasing, says the BBC's Gavin Hewitt in Athens.There is rising anger at the involvement of the IMF and opposition to the bailout is increasing, says the BBC's Gavin Hewitt in Athens.
On Friday evening, several thousand protesters took to the streets of Athens to demonstrate against further austerity measures.On Friday evening, several thousand protesters took to the streets of Athens to demonstrate against further austerity measures.
The government's cost of borrowing on international markets has spiralled, making it prohibitively expensive for Greece to borrow money from investors to service its debt.The government's cost of borrowing on international markets has spiralled, making it prohibitively expensive for Greece to borrow money from investors to service its debt.
Athens had hoped that just the promise of EU support, agreed last month, would be enough to reassure markets and help its recovery.Athens had hoped that just the promise of EU support, agreed last month, would be enough to reassure markets and help its recovery.
But Greece's problems have continued to hit investor confidence in the euro and other European economies.But Greece's problems have continued to hit investor confidence in the euro and other European economies.
Bank tax?Bank tax?
At its meeting on Friday, G20 finance ministers said government efforts to jump-start recovery were paying off.At its meeting on Friday, G20 finance ministers said government efforts to jump-start recovery were paying off.
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Austerity measures have triggered protests in GreeceAusterity measures have triggered protests in Greece
But with the global economy recovering from the financial crisis, G20 members should look at reducing their stimulus spending and allow ultra-low interest rates to rise to more normal levels.But with the global economy recovering from the financial crisis, G20 members should look at reducing their stimulus spending and allow ultra-low interest rates to rise to more normal levels.
Thanks to "decisive and coordinated measures at home and across the G20", said US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, "the world economy is growing and the financial system is healing".Thanks to "decisive and coordinated measures at home and across the G20", said US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, "the world economy is growing and the financial system is healing".
The finance ministers also asked the IMF to analyse in detail a proposal to levy taxes on big banks and other financial institutions to stem risk and pay for possible financial failures.The finance ministers also asked the IMF to analyse in detail a proposal to levy taxes on big banks and other financial institutions to stem risk and pay for possible financial failures.