Germany 'open' to IMF help on Greece

(BERLIN) - Germany would be amenable to an intervention by the International Monetary Fund to bail out debt-stricken Greece, government sources said Thursday, insisting that Athens has not yet asked for aid.

"We would be open to an intervention from the IMF if that should become necessary," said the source, who declined to give his name.

The Financial Times reported earlier Thursday that Berlin had concluded a eurozone-led rescue would be legally impossible and is leaning more towards the IMF stepping in if necessary.

Nevertheless, a finance ministry spokesman told AFP: "The government's position has not changed and remains as follows: the issue of financial aid to Greece has not arisen and there is no need to take a decision."

Earlier Thursday, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou told the European parliament in Brussels that "in the end Greece may have to choose the option to go to the IMF."

Papandreou said there was "an opportunity to make a decision next week" at a summit of EU leaders, after finance ministers left it up to their bosses to decide whether to approve a plan for eurozone nations to step in.

On Monday, euro finance ministers agreed to terms under which they would -- if necessary -- offer a multi-billion-euro rescue for Greece, where a debt crisis has presented risks for the European single currency.

In a speech to parliament Wednesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that a country that did not respect the euro area's fiscal rules should be able to be expelled from the club and urged Athens to get its house in order.

Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble told Bild daily earlier this week that the euro area must be able to solve these problems on its own.