Asian stocks have fallen after slide in US and Europe

Asian stocks have fallen on Friday, with some indexes driving towards their worst weekly losses since 2008.

The drop was triggered by warnings from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank about the strength of the global economy.

South Korea's main Kospi index lost 4.8%, while Australia's ASX shed 1.6%. Japan's Nikkei index is closed for a holiday.

US shares fell on Thursday, after Europe's main indexes lost about 5%.

A number of gloomy comments about global growth combined to sour market sentiment.

On Thursday, Christine Lagarde, head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said that the economic situation was entering a "dangerous place".

Robert Zoellick, the World Bank President, said separately that he thought the world was in a "danger zone"

[link to www.bbc.co.uk]