IMF board says any nominations welcome for top job

WASHINGTON, July 10 (Reuters) The International Monetary Fund's board said any country could nominate a candidate to succeed IMF Managing Director Rodrigo Rato, throwing open to worldwide competition a job customarily given to Europeans.

''Any executive director may submit a nomination, regardless of nationality, for the position, consistent with past practice,'' the board of IMF shareholder nations said in a statement yesterday, as some European countries pushed to maintain a tradition of selecting the head of the institution.

The 24-member IMF board, which is made up of the fund's member countries including Europeans, said it would meet at a later date to finalize the selection procedure.

''Directors will meet again to finalize the selection procedure expeditiously to ensure a timely decision in an open and transparent manner,'' the board said.

Developing nations are challenging the custom whereby Europeans head the IMF and an American leads its sister organization, the World Bank.

Earlier yesterday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy launched a drive to nominate former Socialist Finance Minister Dominique Strauss-Khan to run the IMF, but Britain said the post does not necessarily have to be filled by a European.

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