Greek debt-reduction talks to continue

Charles Dallara, the representative of Greece's private creditors, said the talks would continue over the phone, despite his departure from the Greek capital on Saturday.Dallara, the managing director of the Institute of International Finance, told the Associated Press news agency that he is "constantly talking by phone'' with Greek officials and that the talks are "coming together".He had met Lucas Papademos, Greece's prime minister, and Evangelos Venizelos, the finance minister, on Friday to iron out details of a bond swap deal that could  lighten Greece's debt burden.Frank Vogl, his spokesman, said Dallara left Athens a day later for a "long-standing engagement'' in Paris, Vogl said that IIF's legal and financial advisers are still in Athens working on several "outstanding issues'' with Greek officials and that Dallara will return to Athens "as needed". (BBC)