Senagal's President Abdoulaye Wade dismissed the UN's food agency as a "waste of money" days after the UN announced an emergency plan to bring soaring world food prices under control.

His comments came as Nigeria braced for a national strike by bakers over the cost of flour and sugar.

Some global food prices have nearly doubled in the past three years, provoking riots and other protests in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Last week the UN unveiled a $200m (Ł100m) package to boost food production in the worst-affected countries.

Mr Wade said on Senegalese radio and television that the FAO's work was duplicated by other organisations that operated more efficiently.