Greece asks for bailout extension

ATHENS. — Greece pleaded for a short-term bailout extension yesterday to avert a midnight default as frantic efforts gathered pace to salvage a deal that could keep Athens in the euro, with Germany warning that time had run out to extend vital credit lines.

As the clock ticked down toward midnight, when billions of euros in locked-up bailout funds are due to expire, euro zone finance ministers called a last-minute conference call (1:00 a.m. EDT) to discuss the Greek request.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker appealed to Athens to accept the deal proposed by international creditors last week while holding out hopes that some extra tweaks could still be possible. — Reuters.