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World Bank board gives Wolfowitz an additional week

The board of the World Bank has given an additional week to bank president Paul Wolfowitz to defend himself against nepotism allegations, the bank said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The Executive Directors met today to consider a request from the President for additional time to comment on the draft report of the ad hoc group, which was provided to him on May 6," the statement said.

"They have informed the President that they agree with the recommendation of the group to extend the period for his final comments on the group's draft report to the close of business on Tuesday. After considering the President's comments, the group will complete its report," it added.

Wolfowitz was informed he will be able to meet with the board on Tuesday "to communicate his views in person, if he wishes to do so. They will then consider all the information available and reach their decisions," the statement said.

Wolfowitz is battling strong calls for his resignation after the revelation last month that he personally engineered a massive pay hike and guaranteed promotion for his companion, Shaha Riza, a World Bank employee, after he took the bank's top job in 2005.

Bank rules prohibit managers from supervising employees with whom they have a close personal relationship.

A protest organized on Wednesday outside the World Bank's headquarters brought together demonstrators chanting "no more gifts for your honey, no more stealing the poor's money."

"People at the World Bank were ill-disposed of [Wolfowitz] from Day One," Desmond Lachman, a fellow and bank watcher at the American Enterprise Institute, told the Washington Post. "His girlfriend is a sideshow."

The administration of US President George W. Bush, which nominated Wolfowitz, pressed for the bank's directors to give him more time to respond to the allegations of favoritism.

Treasury Secretary Paulson has also defended Wolfowitz, insisting he is "a dedicated public servant and deserves a fair process rather than a rush to judgment," said Brookly McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for Paulson.
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