Germany considering loan guarantees for Greece-WSJ

NEW YORK Feb 9 (Reuters) - Germany is considering loan guarantees for Greece and other troubled European countries, the Wall Street Journal reported on its website on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Germany's finance ministry has reportedly been in discussions on such a plan with the head of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet, and may be looking to take a lead position in debt guarantees for the debt-laden nation. A final decision may not come this week, WSJ wrote.

The ECB declined to comment.

Reuters reported earlier on Tuesday that major European governments had agreed in principle to aid Greece, where large deficits and a big national debt have increased risk of default.