EU picks new IMF chief

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BRUSSELS, July 10 (AP): The European Union chose Tuesday France's Dominique Strauss-Kahn to head the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Portugal, which leads talks between all 27 EU nations, said Europe would support Strauss-Kahn, a former French finance minister, after Spain's Rodrigo Rato steps down in October.
By tradition, Europe and the United States choose the top jobs at the world's two major financial institutions, with the EU picking the head of the IMF and the US choosing who should lead the World Bank. But British Finance Minister Alistair Darling said the post should still be open to candidates from other parts of the world.
"We think there needs to be an opportunity for all members of the IMF to make their own assessment as to individual candidates ... and then, of course, pick the best candidate for the job," he told reporters.
Dutch Finance Minister Wouter Bos earlier said it was still an "open race" between Europe and candidates from other parts of the world.