DUBAI (Reuters) - International police body Interpol elected Kim Jong-yang of South Korea as president for a two-year term on Wednesday, beating a Russian national whose candidacy raised concerns in Europe and the United States about the risk of Kremlin interference. Interpol's 194 member states, meeting in Dubai for their annual congress, elected Mr Kim to succeed China's Meng Hongwei, who disappeared in September and later resigned after Chinese authorities said he was being investigated for suspected bribery. Image copyright AFP/Getty Images Image caption Kim Jong-yang had been acting Interpol chief since the last president's disappearance in September

Interpol has elected South Korean Kim Jong-yang as its president, rejecting the controversial Russian frontrunner. US accuses Russia of using Interpol to settle scores

The candidacy of Alexander Prokopchuk of Russia, a police major-general and one of Interpol's four vice-presidents, led to concern in Europe and the United States about the possibility of Russia being able to exploit Interpol's power. "Russia routinely abuses Interpol for the purpose of settling scores and harassing political opponents, dissidents and journalists,” the senators said.
Interpol elects South Korean Kim Jong-yang as its president, beating Russian candidate Alexander Prokopchuk.