News site: IMF angered by criticism from top Czech central bank official

The International Monetary Fund has reacted angrily to suggestions by the vice-governor of the Czech National Bank that the IMF had worsened the financial crisis in eastern Europe, the news website tyden.cz reported. In an interview for an Austrian newspaper, Mojmír Hampl said the IMF had accelerated the crisis in the region so as to find a new sphere of activity and receive more funding. Tyden.cz said IMF officials had been strongly critical of Mr Hampl’s comments and a leading figure in the organisation had discussed the matter with the governor of the Czech central bank, Zdeněk Tuma. Officials said on Friday that the remarks had represented Mr Hampl’s private view, not the position of the bank.