Brown: American likely as new World Bank chief

POTSDAM, Germany -- World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz is likely to be replaced by another American, British Finance Minister Gordon Brown has said.

Wolfowitz resigned from the bank last week over his involvement in a high-paying promotion for this companion. He will leave his post on June 30.

Media speculation about possible candidates for Wolfowitz's replacement include U S Deputy Treasury Secretary Robert Kimmitt and former U S trade representative Robert Zoellick. Outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair has also been mentioned .

Asked for his views on such speculation, Brown told reporters: "The information I have is that the American administration are likely to nominate an American."

The United States, the bank's largest shareholder, has named the World Bank chief since its inception over 60 years ago. European countries have traditionally chosen the head of the bank's sister organization, the International Monetary Fund.

"I understand that the American administration wishes to make early progress on this," Brown told reporters on the sidelines of the G8 finance ministers meeting near Berlin this weekend.