Brazil, SA, Saudi back France for IMF bid

RIYADH – Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the French candidate to head the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said on Wednesday he had secured support from key developing countries for his campaign and backed their demand for more voting rights.

The former French finance minister said he has won Saudi backing as well as approval from Brazilian and South African leaders on a current tour to rally support for his bid to become IMF managing director. “I want to convince the most important countries in the IMF that I am the best candidate,” he told Reuters after meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday with Saudi Finance Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf and Hamad al-Sayyari, head of the Saudi central bank.”That’s the reason why I was in South Africa.I had the support of President (Thabo) Mbeki.I was in Brazil and took the support of President (Luiz Inacio) Lula (da Silva) and now I’m here in Riyadh.”Senegal has also declared its backing for Strauss-Kahn and last week French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Egypt had expressed its support.Nampa-Reuters”I want to convince the most important countries in the IMF that I am the best candidate,” he told Reuters after meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday with Saudi Finance Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf and Hamad al-Sayyari, head of the Saudi central bank.”That’s the reason why I was in South Africa.I had the support of President (Thabo) Mbeki.I was in Brazil and took the support of President (Luiz Inacio) Lula (da Silva) and now I’m here in Riyadh.”Senegal has also declared its backing for Strauss-Kahn and last week French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Egypt had expressed its support.Nampa-Reuters