Euro-area finance ministers authorized a 7 billion-euro ($7.6billion) bridge loan to Greece, according to Irish Prime MinisterEnda Kenny, paving the way for a third bailout that may allowEurope's most indebted nation to stay in the common currency.

The financing deal is expected to be announced on Friday afternational parliaments have voted on the aid accord that PrimeMinister Alexis Tsipras pushed through his legislature on Monday,according to an official with knowledge of the discussion, whoasked not to be named because the talks are private. Member statesalso must consider whether to move ahead with the full bailoutproposed for Greece.

The short-term financing is needed so that Greece can meet a 3.5billion-euro payment due to the European Central Bank on Monday,and keep the country afloat while Tsipras negotiates the details ofa three-year bailout of as much as 86 billion euros. That aidpackage would come from the euro-area's permanent firewall fund,the European Stability Mechanism.