(Corrects 5th paragraph to show Colombia first major Latam power to support Carstens. Uruguay has also said it supports him)
JOHANNESBURG, June 9 (Reuters) - With just one day to go before nominations close for the next head of the IMF, the African Union said on Thursday it would like to see a non-European in the position, preferably an African.
The AU has not put forth a name for their preferred candidate to replace Dominique Strauss-Kahn who stepped down last month as managing director of the International Monetary Fund to fight sexual assault charges.
South Africa's former finance minister Trevor Manuel has been seen as a possible candidate but he has not formally been nominated.
"Selecting a non-European and particularly someone from the developing world would go a long way in increasing voice and representation at the IMF for these countries," the AU said in a statement.
French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde is front-runner in the race but Colombia on Wednesday was the first major Latin American country publicly to back Mexico's central bank chief Agustin Carstens for the job, saying a dozen other countries from the region also supported his candidacy.
Emerging economies would like a candidate from their group to head the fund but have not rallied behind one nominee.
The AU said a compromise would be for the number two post at the Fund to be given to a European. (Reporting by Phumza Macanda; Editing by Patrick Graham)
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