Greek parties ‘to finalise deal’

Greek party leaders, from left,  George Karatzaferis, Antonis Samaras, Prime Minister Lucas Papademos and George Papandreou at the prime minister's office in Athens (8 Feb 2012)The talks had been postponed to give opposition leaders time to digest the proposals

Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos is meeting coalition parties in an attempt to seal an austerity agreement to secure a new EU/IMF bailout.

The three parties were handed the draft after final touches were agreed between the PM and EU, ECB and IMF officials.

The accord is likely to include a 20% minimum wage reduction, pension cuts and 15,000 civil service lay-offs, and has prompted further mass protest.

Eurozone finance ministers are to discuss the bailout on Thursday.

Analysts believe this news indicates the Greek politicians have reached an agreement, with Eurogroup head Jean-Claude Juncker previously having said the Brussels meeting would “depend on the results of the talks in Athens”.

The party leaders had arrived at Mr Papademos’ office for the meeting at about 17:00 local time (15:00 GMT).

It had been postponed

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