More than 700 World Bank staff have signed a letter expressing concern and calling for a resolution of a crisis involving bank President Paul Wolfowitz as a decision over his leadership looms.
In a rare move, the 718 employees asked to add their names to a letter first circulated on April 26 by 46 World Bank officials working to implement the bank's anti-corruption strategy. The surge of signatures, on a public letter on the bank's Web site, reflected signs of increasing discontent.
The next 72 hours will be critical for the former No 2 Pentagon official accused of violating staff rules by directing a high-paid promotion for his companion Shaha Riza, a World Bank Middle East expert, as an investigating panel prepares to announce its findings.