Relief Group Weighs In on World Bank Search

Oxfam, an international-development organization in Oxford, England, has called for an end to U.S. control over the appointment of the president of the World Bank, following Paul Wolfowitz’s announcement that he will resign from the international finance agency, reports the Guardian.

Mr. Wolfowitz’s departure is a rare opportunity to make changes at the World Bank, officials at Oxfam said, adding that they want Mr. Wolfowitz’s successor appointed on merit, rather than hand-picked by President Bush.

Despite the development group’s demands, the U.S. government is showing little desire to change its position on appointing an American to lead the bank, the newspaper says.