World Bank board steps up pressure on Wolfowitz to resign

THE World Bank executive board has concluded that president Paul Wolfowitz broke ethics rules in arranging a pay rise for his girlfriend, and will try to end his tenure next week, The Washington Post reported at the weekend.

Citing unnamed senior bank officials, the newspaper said board members do not want to vote to fire Wolfowitz, since that might provoke a rupture with the US. But they are inclined to adopt a resolution saying they have lost confidence in him, hoping that will persuade him to resign, the report said.

Wolfowitz readied his response to conflict-of-interest charges as opponents gathered support to oust him from the helm of the biggest aid agency.