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Egypt minister hopes for IMF deal before polls start in April


    CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptian Finance Minister Al-Mursi Al-Sayed Hegazy said on Sunday he hopes a deal on a $4.8 billion (3.1 billion pounds) IMF loan can be agreed before parliamentary elections begin in late April.

    The deal was agreed in principle last November but put on hold at Cairo's request following unrest on Egyptian streets.

    "We expect that an agreement will happen before the elections," Higazy told reporters. "I expect and am hopeful this deal can be made before the elections."

    Voting in four-round process begins on April 22.

    (Reporting by Asma Alsharif; editing by David Stamp)