The International Monetary Fund's Executive Board on Thursday concluded its interview of the two candidates for the post of managing director, which fell vacant after the resignation of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who was arrested in New York last month on rape charges.

In a statement, the IMF said French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde and the Mexican economist Agustin Carstens were interviewed by its Executive Board this week.

The two candidates also met the board members individually.

While Lagarde, a French national, is Minister of Economy, Industry and Employment of France; Carstens is a Mexican national and Governor of the Bank of Mexico, as well as a former deputy managing director of the

IMF.

Their names were announced after the period for submitting nominations for the position of the next managing director closed on Friday, June 10.

"These meetings have been an opportunity for both candidates to present to the Executive Board all relevant information concerning their respective candidacies," A Shakour Shaalan, dean of the IMF executive board, said.

The board plans to meet early next week to discuss the strengths of each candidate, with the aim of completing the selection process by June 30, Shaalan said.

"Although the board may select a managing director by a majority of the votes cast, the board's objective is to select the managing director by consensus in a formal meeting," the statement said, adding that the selection of the next managing director will be announced through a release.