IMF seeks Saudi help for rescue fund

Davos: International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde will visit Saudi Arabia next month to request a contribution from the kingdom to the IMF's $500 billion (Dh1.8 trillion) fundraising effort to fight the European debt crisis, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Saudi Arabia is likely to tell Lagarde that it is willing to increase its contributions to the IMF, but it will be seeking an increased voice in the running of the fund in exchange for its contribution, one of the people said.