IMF chief wants U.S. to resolve deficit
Rato: ‘Truly excessive’ imbalance must be addressed
“America must resolve the problems linked to its budget deficit, which is now truly excessive,” Rato wrote.

"The U.S. budget deficit hit successive records in the past two fiscal years, which President Bush blamed on a 2001 recession, the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the U.S. military response. Democrats say Bush’s tax cuts also widened the gap.

"During his re-election campaign, Bush said he would halve the budget deficit in five years but, since then, U.S. Treasury Secretary Snow has been less specific about the time frame."

France urges U.S. action to halt dollar’s slide

"Economic analysts have said a further fall in the value of the dollar ­ which has lost 25 percent in trade-weighted terms since early 2003 ­ could pose risks to the global economy."