Merkel says confident Greek aid deal can come on Monday

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday she was confident that international lenders could reach a deal on Monday to release emergency aid to Athens and that such a deal would be possible without writing down Greek debt.

"I am very hopeful that we can reach a solution on the question of the payment of the Greece tranches on Monday," she told a news briefing after a meeting of EU leaders. Merkel repeated her rejection of a haircut on Greek debt.