Israel's Fischer Challenges Lagarde For IMF Head

By Steven Scheer and Maayan Lubell

JERUSALEM

(Reuters) - Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer said on Saturday he would run for the top job at the International Monetary Fund, presenting a potentially serious challenge to front-runner Christine Lagarde.

Lagarde, the French Finance Minister, told her Saudi Arabian counterpart earlier in the day that tackling sovereign debt troubles would be a priority of the IMF if she led the Washington-based rescue lender.

Lagarde Has G8 Backing; Hits Back At Inquiry Call

By Helen Massy-Beresford and Yves Clarisse

PARIS

(Reuters) - G8 leaders all back French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde's bid to run the IMF, Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said on Sunday, as the candidate attacked a call to investigate her role in a 2008 legal case that may harm her chances.

France was careful not to speak out about Lagarde's candidacy during a Group of Eight summit in Deauville last week but Juppe said all eight nations were firmly behind Lagarde.