LONDON - BRITAIN'S prime minister is holding telephone talks with Germany's chancellor on Europe's financial crisis.

Government spokesman Michael Ellam says Prime Minister Gordon Brown will ask Chancellor Angela Merkel to clarify her government's pledge to guarantee personal bank accounts in Germany.

Mr Ellam says Mr Brown also will press in the phone call on Monday for European countries to cooperate in tackling Europe's economic woes.

The European Union's failure to pull together on dealing with the crisis has caused worry. Both Ireland and Greece have irritated their EU neighbors by acting independently to guarantee all savings. -- AP