Signs of growing support from Argentina's provincial governors have boosted hopes of the country sealing a cash lifeline from the International Monetary Fund.

The IMF, which cut cash-starved Argentina off from aid in December, has stressed the importance of unity among Argentina's rulers for renewing credit lines.

"We strongly believe ... that political consensus is necessary to be able to have a sustainable program in Argentina," IMF spokesman Tom Dawson said.

The statement followed the support of most of Argentina's 24 provincial governors to a 12-point plan aimed at boosting long-standing negotiations with the IMF.

The governors' plan urges measures including good management of the country's foreign currency reserves, and the end of some tax breaks opposed by the Fund.

"We hope that now the IMF will take [Monday's agreement] into consideration and that we can advance to complete the accord," Argentine Economy Minister Roberto Lavagna said.

Actions speak louder...

However, Mr Dawson voiced doubts over Argentina's history of delivering on policy promises.

"Whatever [IMF] agreement is reached needs to be implemented, and indeed implementation has been a concern of ours for some time in Argentina," he said.

Many issues, such as banking reforms and factors surrounding provincial budgets, which governors agreed in April remained to be resolved.

"Quite a few points [of the April plan] have not been accomplished," Mr Dawson said.

"That is the key issue, the issue of implementation."

He tempered hopes of an imminent deal with Argentina.

"There is still a fair amount of work to do."

Default

However, Mr Dawson added that Argentina's default last week on a World Bank loan need not be a block to a new agreement with the IMF.

"We will face that aspect of it when we get to it," he said.

Argentina paid lees than $80m of an $805m payment due to the World Bank.