(adds his remarks to reporters, background) GENEVA, Feb 8 (Reuters) - France's ambassador for HIV/AIDS and communicable diseases, Michel Kazatchkine, was named on Thursday to lead a multi-billion-dollar fund fighting AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Kazatchkine, 60, will succeed Briton Richard Feachem, its first executive director, who steps down at the end of his five-year term on March 31.

He immediately called for greater resources for the Global Fund, which has committed $7 billion in grants to 136 countries since its launch five years ago.

Funding for the 2008-2010 period will be decided later this year.

The United States, followed by France, are the top donors to the Geneva-based fund. It is providing antiretroviral drugs to 770,000 AIDS sufferers and has distributed 18 million insecticide-treated bednets to prevent malaria.

In a statement, the fund's board said Kazatchkine had been chosen because of his experience as a physician and global health expert. He is also a former vice chair of the Fund's board.

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