Troika talks on Cyprus postponed for a week-FinMin

NICOSIA, July 12 (Reuters) - European and IMF inspectors have postponed a trip to Cyprus next week to discuss the island's bailout request because they need more time, the finance ministry said on Thursday, which means the island will probably not wrap up talks this month as hoped.

Cyprus sought emergency financial aid from its EU partners on June 25 to buffer a banking sector battered by exposure to Greece, becoming the fifth euro zone country to need a bailout.

Officials from the European Commission, the IMF and the European Central Bank, known collectively as the "troika" were in Cyprus last week collecting data and had been due to return in mid-July. Cyprus had been hoping to conclude talks on a bailout by the end of July.

• Already a subscriber?
  Sign in to read full article.
• Not a subscriber?
  Subscribe now and get full access!

July 12, 2012