国际英语新闻：Germany, IMF, ECB call for sped-up action on Greek crisis as more negative signals emerge

"Everything else depends on the program," Merkel stressed, while Strauss-Kahn said that "it is almost obvious" that Greece would agree on this program soon, and he hoped the talks would be ended "very fast."

"Every day that is lost, it is getting worse and worse in Greece and Eurozone, " Strauss-Kahn said. However, he also mentioned that "You shouldn't believe too much what they (rating agencies) say even if it may be useful."

ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet also believed that it was " an absolute necessity to decide very rapidly" on aid to Greece, and Athens would agree to the budget-cut plan, which was " courageous and convincing."

The euro zone has prepared a 30-billion-euro (40 billion dollars) aid package for Greece for one year, with an additional loan from the IMF worth of around 15 billion euros.

Strauss-Kahn told lawmakers in German lower house of parliament on Wednesday that the package would cover three years, and the total amount would be between 100 billion euros and 120 billion euros, according to German television N-TV's reports and some lawmakers' comments after the meeting.

Both Merkel and Strauss-Kahn refused to elaborate on the amount of the aid package. "Let us talk about numbers once the program has been negotiated," Merkel said.

Germany "will make its own contribution" in pulling Greece out of crisis, if the Athens was determined to implement its austerity measures in next few years, Merkel said.

In line with the negotiating bailout proposal, Germany, the largest economy in Europe, would pay 8.4 billion euros per year, the biggest single contributor among 16 eurozone States. Germany' s commitment is considered critical in curbing the debt crisis and stabilizing the euro currency.

Several recent polls showed that the majority of Germans did not want to their country to be involved in helping Greece.

Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) is facing a key regional election on May 9, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous state. Some analysts said Merkel was in a difficult position when pressed by two contradictory forces on the Greece issue: the urgent call from European partners and the strong opposition at home.