Beleaguered World Bank head Paul Wolfowitz saw his troubles worsen as Germany clamored for his resignation over a promotion he apparently facilitated for his girlfriend.

"The situation is no longer acceptable," German Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul declared in an interview with Financial Times Deutschland published yesterday.

"My conclusion is that Wolfowitz should face the consequences and thus do the bank a service. The sooner, the better," said Wieczorek-Zeul, who is also Germany's governor to the World Bank.

Meanwhile, German government spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm said that Germany "had full confidence that the World Bank would find a solution that would meet its high principles," neatly side-stepping the issue.

Pressure has been mounting on Wolfowitz as the World Bank board prepared to rule on whether he broke bank rules in ordering a major pay rise for his partner.

The Financial Times yesterday carried an open later from over 40 senior former World Bank executives, united in calling for Wolfowitz to step down at once.

(Xinhua News Agency April 24, 2007)