HANOI (AP) - The International Monetary Fund has taken up the issue of Vietnam's

overdue debt to the organization and may come up with a repayment schedule by October,

the IMF representative in Vietnam said July 15.

Erich Spitaller confirmed that the fund's executive board, which met July 14 in Washington,

had considered how to settle the issue of Vietnam's U.S. $140 million arrears and

clear the way for future loans.

"The momentum is increasing toward support in due course of Vietnam's reform

and stabilization policies by fund resources," Spitaller said in Hanoi.