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Christine Lagarde named IMF chief

French finance minister Christine Lagarde, 55, has been named the first woman to head the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

La rédaction de Mediapart

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France's Christine Lagarde, 55, has been named the first woman to head the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The announcement of her appointment came soon after she received the backing of the US and Russia.

Ms Lagarde, the French minister of finance since June 2007, was up against Mexico's Agustin Carstens. An IMF statement said that both candidates "were well qualified".

The post became vacant following the resignation of Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

"The results are in: I am honoured and delighted that the board has entrusted me with the position of MD of the IMF!" Ms Lagarde said via Twitter minutes after the announcement.

Read more on this story from the BBC.