January 25, 2003	Saturday	Ziqa’ad 21, 1423

WASHINGTON, Jan 24: The International Monetary Fund said on Friday it has approved a short-term accord that will reschedule $6.78 billion of payments Argentina owes the lender in the coming months.

The lender said in a brief statement, issued after its executive board approved the deal, that the accord will reschedule payments that Argentina owes the fund through August. The approval had been expected after the two sides reached agreement on a short-term accord after more than a year of tortuous talks to restart aid.

—Reuters