The UK's three most senior financial figures have defended their handling of the worst crisis to hit the banking system in almost a century. . . . . .Five weeks on from the crisis, the Treasury still had no agreement from the Icelandic Government over covering the exposure of British taxpayers with cash trapped in online banks such as Icesave.

"We could not have a situation where they simply cast off taxpayers here in Britain," Mr Darling said. Ananova website - 04-Nov-08.

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