German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande were due to hold key talks in Berlin later on Thursday, as the eurozone's biggest nations seek to hammer out a common position on the fate of cash-strapped Greece, according to dpa. The talks come against the backdrop of a major diplomatic offensive launched by Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, aimed at winning an extension for Athens' timetable to clean up its public finances. Samaras is to meet Merkel on Friday, before travelling on to Paris for talks with Hollande on Saturday, as Greece prepares for a critical few weeks in its battle to remain part of the 17-member eurozone.
