IMF hikes loans to Kyrgyzstan amid food price rise

WASHINGTON, May 22 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund has agreed to double lending to the central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan to $18 million to help with the effects of high food prices, a spokesman said on Thursday.

IMF spokesman David Hawley said the IMF was in discussions with 10 to 15 other countries struggling with soaring global food prices, including African nations Mali and Madagascar. (Reporting by Lesley Wroughton; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama,)