Riza complains of victimisation

The woman at the centre of the controversy that has embroiled World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz today claimed she was being…

The woman at the centre of the controversy that has embroiled World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz today claimed she was being victimised after being "forced" into a job transfer because of their relationship.

Shaha Riza's comments are included in new documents released by the World Bank that also show Mr Wolfowitz had a direct hand in arranging her promotion and generous pay package.

Mr Wolfowitz, a friend and former deputy defence secretary of US President George Bush, is fighting to retain his job.

Ms Riza said that at no time did she report directly to Mr Wolfowitz and that he had proposed to remove himself from any decisions involving her to avoid a potential conflict of interest.

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She said the ethics committee of the World Bank's board had required her "to go on external assignment contrary to my wishes."

Ms Riza was moved to a high-paying job at the State Department in September 2005.

"I have now been victimised for agreeing to an arrangement that I have objected to and that I did not believe from the outset was in my best interest," she said.

Her comments were made in a memo to an ad hoc committee of the World Bank looking into the circumstances surrounding her transfer.

Mr Wolfowitz has said he made a mistake in involving himself in his girlfriend's appointment and has apologised for his role in Ms Riza's promotion.

Before her transfer to the State Department, she worked as a communications adviser in the bank's Middle East Department.

In her memo, Ms Riza lamented "vicious public attacks" against her, which she said affected her "professionally, physically and psychologically."

The documents released by the World Bank included new details about Mr Wolfowitz's involvement.

Two months after arriving at the bank on June 1, 2005, he sent a memo to the bank's vice president of human resources, laying out details concerning Ms Riza's employment and compensation.

"I now direct you to agree to a proposal which includes the following terms and conditions.

"You should accept immediately her offer to be detailed to an outside institution of her choosing, while retaining bank salary and benefits."

The Wolfowitz memo went on say she should receive a promotion, draw a salary of 180,000 dollars and get annual pay increases of 8 per cent. Before the job change, Ms Riza was believed to be getting paid around $133,000 dollars.

She remains on the World Bank's payroll despite now working for the Foundation for the Future, an international organisation that gets some money from the US State Department.

The Bush administration again expressed support for him yesterday. President Bush, controversially nominated Mr Wolfowitz - a main architect of the Iraq war - for the top job at the World Bank in 2005.

Treasury Secretary Harry Paulson said: "Paul Wolfowitz is a very dedicated public servant ... He has had quite a distinguished career."

However, some of the bank's staff have called for him to resign. German Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul said Mr Wolfowitz needs to seriously consider whether he can continue as head of the bank.

"At this point, it is my conclusion that he has to decide for himself whether in regard to this mistake, he can credibly fulfil his duties," she said.

AP