IMF's Lipsky says sustained costly oil a growth risk

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Unrest in the Middle East and North Africa has generated a "fear factor" that drove up oil prices, and growth forecasts could be at risk if those gains are sustained, a top IMF official said on Monday.

"If that is sustained of course that will have a more negative impact," first managing director John Lipsky said in an interview with Reuters Insider.

Lipsky said the IMF had not yet adjusted its growth forecast because of costlier oil and still thinks the most recent price surge would prove temporary.

(Reporting by Lesley Wroughton and Chrystia Freeland; Writing by Emily Kaiser; Editing by James Dalgleish)