France promises euro zone aid for Greece if needed

PARIS, March 7 (Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy promised on Sunday that euro zone countries would help Greece if its financial problems worsened and vowed a crackdown on market speculators whom the Greeks blame for their woes.

"If Greece needs help, we will be there," Sarkozy said at a joint news conference with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou. "The main actors on the European stage are decided to do whatever is needed to make sure Greece is not isolated."

The French president said he had talked to German Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier in the day and added that France, Germany and Greece were ready to take concerted action against market speculation aimed at Greek financial instruments. (Reporting by Harry Papachristou; writing by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Jon Boyle)