Merkel ally rejects concessions to Greece

A senior ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel is insisting that there is no room for concessions to Greece on fulfilling the conditions of its aid program and says he sees little chance of Germany's governing coalition supporting a third rescue package, according to AP. Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is to visit Germany and France over the next week as Europe awaits a report from debt inspectors on Greece's progress in implementing reforms and austerity measures demanded in exchange for two massive bailout packages. There's little enthusiasm among creditors such as Germany for granting Greece more time or other concessions. Volker Kauder, the parliamentary leader of Merkel's conservative bloc, was quoted Sunday as telling the weekly Der Spiegel: 'there is no more latitude, either on the timeframe or the matter itself.'