Eurozone backs Greek reform plan, aid extension

Brussels

GREECE secured a four-month extension of its financial rescue on Tuesday when its eurozone partners approved a reform plan that backed down on key leftist measures and promised that spending to alleviate social distress would not derail its budget.

Finance ministers sealed the decision in a one-hour telephone conference convened by Eurogroup chairman Jeroen Dijsselbloem, after the new leftist-led Athens government sent him a detailed list of reforms it plans to implement by July.