US supports Greek aid: White House

The United States supports Greece's application for aid from the IMF and European Union to solve its debt crisis, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Friday.

"We support that call for that activation," Gibbs said, adding that the US Treasury Department was "closely monitoring" the situation.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou earlier said the 45-billion-euro (60-billion dollar) package was a "national need."

Papandreou made his plea before a nation facing unprecedented austerity, just the day after the latest in a series of strikes against massive reforms.

An issue of 10-year Greek bonds totalling 8.5 billion euros expires on May 19 and needs to be covered by fresh finance.

"The activation of the (EU-IMF aid) mechanism is a national need," Papandreou said.

"Our partners will do what is necessary to offer us a safe port to allow our boat to float again," he said.