Britain's debt 'disturbing but more needed': IMF chief

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), told BBC Radio the outlook for the global economy was worsening, describing 2009 'as really being a bad year'.

He painted a dismal picture, describing the level of Britain's public debt as 'disturbing', but recommending it be increased to finance further fiscal stimulus, The Times reports.

Strauss-Kahn said IMF, which last month reduced its forecast for global economic growth in 2009 from 3% to 2.2%, might go even lower in its January forecast because governments around the world had failed to inject enough money in their economies.

He called for a global stimulus package equal to about 2% of the world's collective GDP, or $1.2tn, which means Britain would need almost £10bn more to stabilise the economy.

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