Samaras eyes precautionary credit line

Protesters shout anti-austerity slogans during a demonstration in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki.File photo: Nikolas Giakoumidis

Protesters shout anti-austerity slogans during a demonstration in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki.File photo: Nikolas Giakoumidis

Published Oct 18, 2014

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Athens, Greece - Greece's prime minister said his government is in talks with rescue lenders over a possible precautionary credit line to ease the country's exit from its €240 billion bailout programme.

Antonis Samaras, speaking to reporters on Friday at a summit in Milan, said the credit line was “an item negotiation.” He did not clarify whether the credit line would come from other euro countries or the International Monetary Fund.

The bailout loans from other euro countries end this year, while those from the IMF in 2016.

Samaras has hoped to have Greece stop taking bailout loans at the end of this year.

But amid a global market sell-off this week, Greece has seen its borrowing rates soar, hurting its chances of being able to finance itself on bond markets. - Sapa-AP

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