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Greece debt plan 'playing with fire' says Eurozone head Greece debt plan 'playing with fire' says eurozone head
(40 minutes later)
The Greek debt crisis is endangering the economies of at least five other EU countries, the head of the Eurozone group of finance ministers has warned. The Greek debt crisis is endangering the economies of at least five other EU countries, the head of the eurozone group of finance ministers has warned.
Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker said Germany was "playing with fire" with a plan to involve. private creditors in resolving the crisis Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker said Germany was "playing with fire" with a plan to involve private creditors in resolving the crisis.
His comments come as finance ministers prepare to meet in Luxembourg.His comments come as finance ministers prepare to meet in Luxembourg.
They are expected to agree to release a 12bn (£10bn)-euro loan under an IMF and EU emergency bailout plan. They are expected to agree to release a 12bn-euro (£10bn) loan under an IMF and EU emergency bail-out plan.
Greece needs the loan to avoid defaulting on its debts due for repayment over the next few months.Greece needs the loan to avoid defaulting on its debts due for repayment over the next few months.
But it is conditional on the government implementing a series of painful domestic reforms which have sparked nationwide strikes, rallies and violent riots on the streets of the capital.But it is conditional on the government implementing a series of painful domestic reforms which have sparked nationwide strikes, rallies and violent riots on the streets of the capital.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that private investors should be encouraged to share some of the burden of the Greek debt by allowing the country extra time to pay them off.German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that private investors should be encouraged to share some of the burden of the Greek debt by allowing the country extra time to pay them off.
'Wrong signal''Wrong signal'
Mrs Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have stressed such involvement should be voluntary, but that private creditors should "show solidarity".Mrs Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have stressed such involvement should be voluntary, but that private creditors should "show solidarity".
But Mr Juncker told German paper the Suddeutsche Zeitung on Saturday that this proposal was "playing with fire" as it would send the wrong signal to ratings agencies who could then decide Greece had defaulted on its repayments.But Mr Juncker told German paper the Suddeutsche Zeitung on Saturday that this proposal was "playing with fire" as it would send the wrong signal to ratings agencies who could then decide Greece had defaulted on its repayments.
If Greece were to default, the cost of borrowing would rise for other struggling Eurozone countries, forcing them to default in turn. If Greece were to default, the cost of borrowing would rise for other struggling eurozone countries, forcing them to default in turn.
Mr Juncker said that unless properly managed, the crisis "could prove contagious for Portugal and Ireland, and then also for Belgium and Italy because of their high debt burden, even before Spain".Mr Juncker said that unless properly managed, the crisis "could prove contagious for Portugal and Ireland, and then also for Belgium and Italy because of their high debt burden, even before Spain".
He said Mrs Merkel's proposal was based on "domestic political considerations in Germany".He said Mrs Merkel's proposal was based on "domestic political considerations in Germany".
Finance ministers from Eurozone countries are due to meet in Luxembourg later on Sunday, where they will almost certainly release the next 12bn euro loan which has already been promised to Greece as well as discussing a second bail-out package. Finance ministers from eurozone countries are due to meet in Luxembourg later on Sunday, where they will almost certainly release the next 12bn-euro loan which has already been promised to Greece as well as discussing a second bail-out package.
Next Tuesday, the Greek parliament will vote on a confidence motion of the new cabinet following Friday's reshuffle which saw former Defence Minister Evangelos Venizelos replacing George Papaconstantinou in the finance ministry.Next Tuesday, the Greek parliament will vote on a confidence motion of the new cabinet following Friday's reshuffle which saw former Defence Minister Evangelos Venizelos replacing George Papaconstantinou in the finance ministry.
That move sparked a jump in Greek bank shares but failed to ease the anger on the streets.That move sparked a jump in Greek bank shares but failed to ease the anger on the streets.
Thousands of protesters marched on the Greek parliament on Saturday to show their continued anger at Prime Minister George Papandreou's austerity campaign.Thousands of protesters marched on the Greek parliament on Saturday to show their continued anger at Prime Minister George Papandreou's austerity campaign.