IMF chief says cannot bend IMF rules for Greece

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of the International Monetary Fund on Wednesday reiterated that the global financial institution cannot bend its rules when it comes to Greece, striking a somber tone in commenting on the "acute crisis" in the euro zone country.

"The IMF has been adopting a line of not silence, but we try to be mindful of developments and not be excessive in our positions," IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said at the Brookings Institution think-tank in Washington, D.C.

"Greece is in a situation of acute crisis, which needs to be addressed seriously and promptly," she said, adding that the IMF would be "fully engaged" in helping to find a solution.

(Reporting by Anna Yukhananov, additional reporting by Jason Lange)