IMF calls for 'more progress' on Greece bailout plan

The International Monetary Fund pitched for European countries to push ahead to reach an agreement on bailout reforms needed to unlock aid to cash-strapped Greece.

The IMF welcomed the Brussels meeting where eurozone ministers said they had made some progress in the months-old dispute, with Greece agreeing to new bailout reforms.

But the IMF, which was a partner with the European Union in the first two Greek bailouts but has not participated in the current third rescue, said it was sending back a mission to Greece but more work was needed.

"More progress will be needed to bridge differences on other important issues; and it is too early to speculate about the prospect for reaching staff-level agreement during this mission," the IMF said in a brief statement.