MARRAKECH, Morocco - The European Central Bank and the Bank of England are now "in the right spot" on interest rates but must maintain tight monetary policy for "as long as necessary" to return inflation to 2% targets, International Monetary Fund European director Alfred Kammer said on Friday.

Kammer told a press conference during IMF and World Bank annual meetings in Morocco that central banks need to avoid easing monetary policy prematurely as positive data comes in that indicates easing inflation. They also must be ready to respond should negative surprises occur showing inflation more persistent than expected, he said.

(Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Alex Richardson)