Greece, Creditors Begin Bailout Deal

ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Greece's government spokeswoman says negotiators from the country's creditors are arriving in Athens to get technical negotiations on a new, multibillion-euro rescue package underway.

However, Olga Gerovasili told the Associated Press that high-level talks won't start until later this week at the earliest. She said senior staff from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund will only arrive in Athens "Thursday or later."

Negotiators were initially expected to arrive last Friday. Stock markets in Europe have fallen amid fears that the delay means Greece's third bailout is already encountering difficulties.

Gerovasili said there's "no reason" for the delay and said it was the creditors who decided when to get the talks underway. She said the talks will take place in a "hotel in the center of Athens," without specifying.

(KA)