Greek bailout deal agreed \\\'in principle\\\'

Greece has agreed a bailout deal "in principle" with its creditors, the European Commission has said.
The Commission said a technical agreement had been reached with Greece, which now requires political approval.
Earlier, Greece's finance minister Euclid Tsakalotos had said "two or three small issues," were yet to be resolved with lenders, following overnight talks in Athens.
A deal is needed keep the country in the eurozone and avert bankruptcy, a BBC report said.
The Greek government is hoping to push a new €86bn (£60bn) three-year agreement through parliament later this week.
The country needs a deal by 20 August, when the country has a debt repayment of about €3bn to make to the European Central Bank.
Greece will not be able to make that payment without funds emerging from the country's third bailout in just over five years.
A European Commission spokeswoman said a technical deal had been reached last night between parties including Greece, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank.
She said a series of phone calls between political leaders would now take place.
"The institutions and the Greek authorities achieved an agreement in principle on a technical basis. Now as a next step, a political assessment will be made," Commission spokeswoman Annika Breidthardt.
Earlier, emerging from the all-night negotiations at a central Athens hotel, Mr Tsakalotos said: "I think we are very close."
"Two or three very small details remain,'' he added.
A Greek official said earlier that Greece agreed the function of a new independent privatisation fund, and how non-performing bank loans will be administered, according to the official.
Both issues had been key sticking points in negotiations.
"Finally, we have white smoke," the official said.
-SS