EU president says deal reached on helping Greece

[February 11, 2010]  BRUSSELS (AP) -- EU President Herman Van Rompuy says European leaders have reached a deal on helping Greece with a debt crisis that threatens to spread to other eurozone nations.

Van Rompuy said "we have an agreement," after meeting in Brussels with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel,

He gave no details, saying they would be released after leaders of all 27 EU states finishing meeting Thursday.

Nervous markets worldwide are watching for concrete assurance that the 27-nation European Union can help Greece stave off a default -- and keep the crisis from spreading to other vulnerable countries, threatening Europe's hesitant economic recovery.

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AP's earlier story is below.

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BRUSSELS (AP) -- EU President Herman Van Rompuy says European leaders have reached a deal on helping Greece with a debt crisis that threatens to spread to other eurozone nations.

Van Rompuy said "we have an agreement," after meeting in Brussels with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel,

He gave no details, saying they would be released after leaders of all 27 EU states finishing meeting Thursday.

Nervous markets worldwide are watching for concrete assurance that the 27-nation European Union can help Greece stave off a default -- and keep the crisis from spreading to other vulnerable countries, threatening Europe's hesitant economic recovery.

[Associated Press]

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