UK to delay Afghan aid over lack of IMF deal

KABUL, March 9 (Reuters) - Britain said on Wednesday it would delay payment of 85 million pounds ($137.6 million) in aid to Afghanistan due to the absence of an International Monetary Fund support programme, which has been hampered by a banking scandal.

In a statement, the British Department For International Development said it was delaying payment to the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund and urged the Afghan government and the IMF to "agree a way forward as soon as possible".

(Reporting by Paul Tait, Writing by Matt Robinson)

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