IMF presses Greece on funding, policy plans (AFP)

The International Monetary Fund warned Athens to firm up its broad financing plans and policy actions to be able to continue receiving IMF bailout funds in concert with the European Union.With Athens warning it will go bankrupt without the next 12-billion-euro installment from a joint IMF-EU rescue program, IMF spokeswoman Caroline Atkinson said the Fund needed "assurances" on how the country will fund its future to continue giving it support.

Things are going so well in Greece (just one step away from a deal for weeks on end), that Greek officials attack EU and IMF as debt talks stall Greek officials launched a vociferous behind the scenes attack on European Union and International Monetary Fund negotiators as talks in Athens over the country's mounting debts appeared to stall.

The International Monetary Fund said it was releasing 3.2 billion euros ($4.6 billion) to Greece but warned there was "no margin for slippage" in the country's reform program.The funds, part of the 110 billion euro joint bailout with the European Union for the debt-stricken country, came as Europe's leaders and banks struggle to achieve an ostensibly voluntary restructuring of the country's debt to relieve pressure on Athens and avert a forced default.

Bundesbank chief Jens Weidmann expressed concern Monday about threats to the independence of central banks, particularly in Japan and Hungary, which he warned could sharply politicise exchange rate policy. "We are witnessing disturbing abuses, for example in Hungary or in Japan, where the new government is interfering massively in the affairs of the central bank, calling forcefully for a more aggressive monetary policy," Weidmann said at a new year reception at the Frankfurt stock exchange's operator, Deutsche Boerse.