IMF and World Bank Pull Staff Out of Iraq, U.S. Official Says

[Judi Lynn]

IMF and World Bank Pull Staff Out of Iraq, U.S. Official Says
By Edith M. Lederer Associated Press Writer
Published: Aug 20, 2003




UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund pulled their staff out of Iraq on Wednesday after the bombing of the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad, a U.S. official said.
The IMF and World Bank are key players in efforts by the U.S.-led coalition to rebuild the Iraq's devastated economy. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the institutions informed the U.S. Treasury of their decision.

The two are expected to provide billions of dollars in loans to help restart the country's economy and banking system. Both had sent assessment teams to Iraq to start the process.

The bomb killed top U.N. envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello and at least 19 others, and wounded at least 100 people. Ahmad Chalabi, a member of the U.S.-picked interim Iraqi government, said the death toll was expected to rise because people are still trapped in the rubble. (snip/...)

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA0504OLJD.html