Related:  Disney picks insider Iger as New CEO

    LOS ANGELES, May 9 (Xinhuanet) - Two former board members sued the Walt Disney Co. on Monday, alleging that false statements were made to shareholders about the company's search for a new chief executive officer (CEO).

    Former Disney board members Roy Disney and Stanley Gold also sued some of the company's board members in the lawsuit, seeking to void the year's election of the company's directors.

    The lawsuit, filed in Delaware Chancery Court, also seeks to compel another election "after full and fair disclosure of all material facts about the CEO selection process.''

    In a statement, the Walt Disney Co. countered, "The record of strong performance of The Walt Disney Company speaks for itself, and this frivolous and baseless lawsuit reflects the mean-spirited, self-serving interest of two ex-board members.''

    Among the defendants named in the suit are Michael Eisner, the outgoing CEO, and Disney President Robert Iger, who has been tapped to replace Eisner.

    The lawsuit alleges that company resources were used to "promote Iger's candidacy," and that the defendants "did not in good faith seriously consider any other candidate."

    Roy Disney, the late Walt Disney's brother, and Gold have been critical for months of the way the board went about picking Iger.

    Disney announced on March 13 that Iger was unanimously elected CEO effective on Sept. 30, 2005, to succeed Eisner. Iger has been president and chief operating officer of Disney since January, 2000. Enditem