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"Very possible" Egypt will ask for bigger IMF loan -minister


    CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt might ask the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to increase its previously requested $4.8 billion (3.1 billion pounds) loan to cover its budget deficit, the country's planning minister said on Wednesday.

    "It's very possible that we will increase the request but so far we are talking about $4.8 billion," Ashraf El-Araby told reporters during a visit to Qatar.

    He also said the government had targeted a budget deficit of 9.5 percent of gross domestic product in the fiscal year ending in June.

    (Writing by Ulf Laessing; Editing by Pravin Char)