Greek Prime Minister Cancels U.S. Visit Over Financial Crisis Concerns

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has canceled a scheduled trip to the United States in order to deal with Greece's deepening financial crisis.

Papandreou had been due to attend the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York and an International Monetary Fund (IMF) meeting, but officials said he decided instead to return to Greece to handle questions connected to the country's debt crisis.

Greek media reported that Papandreou made the decision after consultations with Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos.

Greece is reported facing questions about whether it has fulfilled the requirements needed in exchange for receiving an 8 billion euro installment of its bailout from the European Union and IMF.

Greece has been granted two bailouts -- for 109 billion euros and 110 billion euros -- but must implement austerity and revenue-raising measures in order to receive the funds and prevent a catastrophic default.

compiled from agency reports