IMF supports Greek debt relief

The International Monetary Fund has played a leading role in supporting the view that Greece should be granted debt relief, IMF spokesman Gerry Rice said early on Thursday, stressing that this was clear from the outset.

Responding to a question at a press conference, Rice said he would rather not expand on the issue of the Greek crisis and the IMF's role in it, which has re-emerged in recent days following the publication of a report on the IMF's activity by an independent assessor.

"I do not wish to reopen the story of the crisis in Greece," the US official said, adding that it had been extensively analyzed by the report of the independent assessor, among others. However, he did stress that the Fund had been a standard-bearer among those asking for the Greek debt to be reduced, and added that this was eventually agreed with extensive effect.

That report, which...