Greek PM hails ‘very satisfactory’ rescue plan

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou late Thursday hailed as a “very satisfactory decision” a European move to extend a rescue package to debt-laden Athens, in comments to Greek public television.

“Europe has taken a step forward … Europe and Greece will emerge stronger from this crisis,” Papandreou said.

“It’s a very satisfactory decision which will put in place a European mechanism with the involvement of the International Monetary Fund to guarantee the financial stability of the eurozone,” he added.

The 16 countries that share the euro currency agreed late on Thursday to back a Franco-German plan to offer Greece loans in combination with the IMF.