Germany slams Wolfowitz as bank board meets

BERLIN, May 16 (Reuters) - Germany on Wednesday urged World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz to resign his post and said he would not be welcome at an Africa forum the bank is holding next week in Berlin should he refuse to go.

"He would do the bank and himself a great service if he resigned," German Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, one of Wolfowitz's strongest critics, told reporters. "It would be the best thing for all concerned."

Should he fail to give up his post, she advised him not to take part in a two-day World Bank forum on development aid for Africa which starts Monday in the German capital.
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Canada Comes Out of the Closet

WASHINGTON (Reuters) May 15 2007 - The US failed to win the support of key allies in the Group of Seven over World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz's leadership, with only Japan standing by Washington, a bank board source said Tuesday.

"Japan was aligned with the United States, but others, including Canada, were against Wolfowitz continuing," the European source told Reuters, following a conference call of G7 officials. The G7 comprises the United States, Japan, Canada, Italy, France, Germany and Britain.