Greece 'close to new bailout agreement' amid protests

In Greece, the government is said to be close to agreement on new austerity measures to qualify for more bailout funds.

Prime Minister Lucas Papademos's office told the BBC that a draft agreement has been finalised, and it will be put to political leaders on Wednesday.

Thousands of protesters have been demonstrating outside parliament, opposing the plans, which are based on much tougher public spending cuts in order to release 130bn euro from the EU, the European Central Bank, and the International Monetary Fund.

Gavin Hewitt reports.