Comment on Greek leader defends bailout plan in talks with creditors

BRUSSELS, Belgium — Greece's prime minister entered a showdown with creditors on Wednesday in Brussels, where each side would present proposals in the hope of reaching a deal to unlock bailout loans and save the country from financial disaster. Some officials dampened expectations of a breakthrough Wednesday, even though Greece is running out of cash and faces debt repayments as soon as Friday. But French President Francois Hollande said the talks were at least heading in the right direction: "We are some days, not to say some hours away from a possible agreement." Greece has been negotiating for four months with its creditors over what budget reforms it should make to get the 7.2 billion euros ($8.1 billion) in loans that are left over in its bailout fund.