US Treasury chief to meet German finance minister

BERLIN (AP) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is expected in Berlin for talks with his German counterpart as Europe grapples with its debt crisis.

Geithner meets with Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble in the German capital Thursday. The talks follow a private dinner Wednesday night with European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet and a stop at Germany's central bank, the Bundesbank.

European countries agreed earlier this month on a euro750 billion (nearly $1 trillion) loan backstop for governments in danger of defaulting on debt.

Geithner said in London Wednesday that while the European Union has a good plan for tackling the debt crisis, it must act on it soon.

He said he believes European leaders "will do what's necessary to make it work."