The German parliament has backed the extension of the Greek bailout by four months with an overwhelming majority - the biggest yet of any Bundestag vote on measures to fight the European debt crisis.

But in a sign of growing scepticism over Greece's financial aid package within Germany, 29 MPs from Angela Merkel's CDU/CSU bloc rebelled and voted against the plan. A total of 542 MPs voted in favour, with just 32 MPs voting against and 13 abstaining.

The finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, admitted at the start of the session: "This is not an easy decision for any parliament member." He also told MPs that Greece is not getting more money.

"We're not talking about new billions for Greece, we're not talking about any changes to this programme - rather it's about providing or granting extra time to successfully end this programme."

Yeah good one Wolfie... Extend and pretend... that nothing has changed.

_{It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II}