WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund is in talks with governments in 10 countries, mostly in Africa, about increasing financial assistance to cover rising global food prices, a spokesman said on Thursday.

IMF spokesman Masood Ahmed said Mali, Cameroon and Madagascar were among the countries being consulted.

"They have raised with us the possibility of augmenting their existing arrangements under the Poverty Reduction and Growth facility to provide for additional financing to cover the costs associated with higher food prices," Ahmed told a regular briefing for reporters.