Germany: 'Best thing' for Wolfowitz to resign from World Bank

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European countries signaled on Wednesday they would resist any U.S. bid to keep World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz in place as the bank's board considered whether to endorse a report that found he broke bank rules.

An endorsement of the report on Wolfowitz's handling of a promotion and pay rise for his companion in 2005 would effectively be a statement of no confidence in his leadership and would ramp up pressure on the former deputy U.S. defense chief to step down.

The board adjourned its meeting on Wednesday until 2:30 p.m. (1830 GMT) at the request of the United States, which has backed Wolfowitz and so far not agreed to endorse the report, board and bank sources told Reuters.

"The board is discussing whether to approve the panel's report, which would be as good as a no confidence vote in Mr. Wolfowitz, but the United States asked for an adjournment to consider its position," one senior board source said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070516/pl_nm/worldbank_wolfowitz_dc