Barroso endorses Lagarde for IMF role

President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso has fully endorsed the candidacy of Christine Lagarde as the next head of the International Monetary Fund.

The French Finance Minister has officially put her name forward for the job. If elected, she will be the first woman to hold the post.

Jose Manuel Barroso said Ms Lagarde was well respected in the international community.

She has been the favourite to take the job since Dominique Strauss-Kahn resigned last week to fight sex-assault charges in the US.

Ms Lagarde said her knowledge on the European Community and the Eurozone, and of European leaders, could help her in the role.