Australia has joined South Africa and Brazil in urging the US to abide by an agreement of the Group of 20 economic powers to open up selection of the new head of the World Bank to non-US candidates.
Australia said it strongly supported the G20 position that the heads of both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund should be appointed using a transparent selection process not restricted by nationality.
Washington traditionally picks the president of the World Bank and a European leads the IMF.
The call comes as the US looks set to appoint a new head of the bank after the resignation of Paul Wolfowitz over accusations he authorised a pay rise for his companion.
