Lagarde urges Greek opposition to help avert crisis

PARIS, June 28 (Reuters) - France's Christine Lagarde, named the new head of the International Monetary Fund on Tuesday, called on the Greek opposition to support the government in pushing through a new austerity plan.

"If I have one message tonight about Greece, it is to call on the Greek political opposition to support the party that is currently in power in a spirit of national unity," Lagarde told TF1 television, shortly after her appointment was announced. She said the worst-case scenario would be for Greece to leave the euro zone and that should be avoided at all cost.

Separately, Lagarde said she was "completely unconcerned" about a legal investigation under way into an arbitration settlement case she was involved in in 2008. (Reporting by Alexandria Sage; Editing by Catherine Bremer)