Verizon Communications, which has agreed to acquire MCI Inc., on Wednesday said it would grant MCI two weeks to hold additional talks with rival bidder Qwest Communications International Inc.

The announcement came a day after Qwest executives made a direct appeal to MCI investors to pressure MCI to scrap a $6.7 billion deal reached with Verizon two weeks ago.

MCI said in a statement its board “remains committed to performing its fiduciary duties and will evaluate Qwest’s position over the next two weeks.”

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