France and Germany have reached a deal on a financing plan to help debt-laden Greece, which will include IMF help.

The statement was made by the office of the French Prime Minister Nicolas Sarkozy and has been confirmed by a source from the German government.

Officials in Brussels say the package - yet to be agreed by other eurozone states - will total EUR 23 B, according to BBC.

The news comes days after Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and European Commission President Jose Barroso called on the EU to spell out its rescue plan at the March 25-26 summit in Brussels.

It also follows reports that Greece may seek financial help from the International Monetary Fund over the April 2-4 Easter weekend due to little hope for aid from the European Union.

A senior Greek official told Dow Jones Newswires that the prospect of help from the European Union "doesn't look good" and that IMF help would be a prominent scenario if EU help is not forthcoming.

Meanwhile Greece's Prime Minister George Papandreou warned last week that Athens would not be able to make planned deficit cuts unless it can borrow money more cheaply and said he would prefer not to have to turn to the IMF for help.

Euro-zone member Greece is under intense pressure from the EU and financial markets to bring down its budget gap, which hit an estimated 12.7% of gross domestic product last year, four times above EU limits.

The Socialist government has pledged to cut that deficit to 8.7% of GDP this year, and below the EU's 3% limit by 2012.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!