Obama backs Greek PM's calls

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou says President Barack Obama gave a "very positive" response to his call for a crackdown on speculators he blames for damaging Greece's economy.

He said also that French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other European leaders had now sent an important signal that they would not allow speculators to "play around" with the security of the Eurozone.

"We have found a positive response from President Obama which means this issue will be on the agenda in the next G20 meeting," he told reporters outside the White House after his Oval Office talks with Obama.

Papandreou also said that he had not asked the United States or any other entity for any kind of bailout for Greece's crippled economy.