Colombia's Antonio Ocampo ends World Bank chief bid

London, Apr 14 (ANI): Former Colombian finance minister Jose Antonio Ocampo has announced he is withdrawing his attempt to become president of the World Bank.

His withdrawal leaves just two candidates for the post, Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Korean-American Jim Yong Kim.

Ocampo said he would now support Okonjo-Iweala 'to facilitate the desired unity of the emerging and developing economies around one candidate,' The BBC reports.

The report quoted him as saying that the race 'is clear that this is not based on the merits of the candidates but is a political exercise.'

According to the report, Ocampo's comments referred to the likelihood that an American would be chosen given the US has the most votes at the Bank.

The World Bank is likely to name its new president on Monday.

The successful candidate will replace Robert Zoellick who has been in the role since 2007. (ANI)