WASHINGTON, May 18: The United States vowed on Friday to quickly find a successor to disgraced World Bank chief Paul Wolfowitz, leaving open the possibility of naming a non-American in a break from a much criticised tradition.

US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is leading the process to select a new World Bank president to replace Wolfowitz, who announced his resignation on Thursday following weeks of turmoil over a favouritism scandal.

Wolfowitz said he would step down on June 30 in the “best interests” of the bank following weeks of pressure over a generous pay and promotion package he arranged for his girlfriend, a bank employee. —AFP