* Conclusion of Doha will help Africa through crisis -- Lamy
* WTO head to resume talks at ministerial level soon
By Barry Malone
ADDIS ABABA, March 20 (Reuters) - A speedy conclusion of the Doha trade talks would help developing nations weather the global crisis, the head of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) said on Friday.
"African countries would highly benefit from the conclusion of the Doha negotiations," WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy told reporters at a conference of African Union trade ministers.
Lamy said WTO ministerial discussions had been delayed for reasons including the change of administration in the United States.
He said he intended to resume the political discussion "as soon as possible" but was waiting for the right time.
"I'm waiting impatiently for signals because (a ministerial meeting) would be the right way to respond to the desire of developing countries and to give a signal that during this crisis, at least the low hanging fruit has been cropped."
African trade ministers have been discussing the global crisis and their relationship with the Group of 20 nations for two days at African Union headquarters in Ethiopia.
Lamy warned that protectionist policies by western governments could hurt poor countries during the crisis.
"Africa would probably be the biggest victim of protectionism if we don't resist it," he said. "We have to make sure we don't constrain trade more with protectionist policies."
The Doha round of trade talks started in late 2001, with the goals of boosting the world economy and lowering barriers to exports from poor countries.
Rich and poor countries have since been unable to agree on how market access should be restructured.
A deal among the WTO's 151 members would see rich countries opening up their agricultural markets by cutting subsidies and tariffs as developing countries cut industrial tariffs and liberalise services, creating both access for rich nations and the potential for more South-South trade.
Lamy said WTO figures on global trade flows for 2008 -- to be released next week -- would show trade shrinking as a result of the economic crisis. (Editing by Andrew Roche)