Another nail in the integrity coffin of the the right wing hawks. How can developing nations trust or seek to promote ethical behaviour when the Head of the World Bank is guilty of nepotism.

Fredi, London,

Wolfowitz MUST GO! NOW! There is no other sane option.

Todd Green, Ottawa,

And this is a person who was one of the responsible for the US foreign policy decisions and invasion of Iraq! What a miserable character! He can't make sure that his socks do not have holes and now he shows every sign of nepotism and corruption. The only lame exuse he can produce: "I am new here..." Well, how can he be new after 2 years at work, unles he is mentally challenged? What a fine example for every CEO in the world! What a beacon of integrity and trust! I wonder what other White House characters are like? And I feel myself very uncomfortable at the thought that these people are trying to shape our world for their own convinience. I think that resignation is too weak a response. He probably should be prosecuted and tried and hopefully put to jail. As a fine example for every CEO in the world.

Oleg, Toronto, Canada

This man represents everything that is wrong in the world today.

Lets hope he goes hunting with Cheney sometime.

Alex, Southampton,

What is the problem with this ? As long as we accept that if politician' s lips move they ARE lying. Then these stories will not be newsworthy, and politicians can get on with their jobs withjout distraction.
It might be time to evaluate whether we need an industry dedicated to self agrandisment and enrichment at the cost to the taxpayer.
This comment could be applied to most political items reported today.

peterb, Kirkcaldy, Scotland

As a long time Republican, I am sad to say this is par for the course for the Bush crowd.

Charles Wordsworth, Lancaster, California, U.S.A.

The World Bank employs numerous knowledgeable and experienced advisors to ensure "mistakes" are not made. Wolfowitz sought to place himself above both the advisors and in-house policy to benefit himself. How is this not corrupt? He should not only be dismissed but should be charged for corruption just like anyone else who abuses their power in this way. This is similar behaviour to that of the Enron officials, why should Wolfowitz be any less accountable or receive any less punishment?

Matthew, Bucks, UK

Wolfowitz himself says that he was in "uncharted waters." What were those uncharted waters? He was faced with making an unethical decision and didn't have the Bush Administration to hide his crime or spin it out of existence.

Jim Houghton, Los Angeles, USA

8% increases?

I've always considered myself a capitalist, but this is a prime example showing that the "lefties" are sometimes quite correct. It's a disgrace.

Malcolm Scarratt, Bragg Creek, Alberta, Canada

He should not wait for the decision of the Board of the World Bank. If he believes in the standards he set for the leaders of the third world, he should resign immediately. There is no honor to be gained by staying.

dec, Tokyo, Japan

What a disgrace. A person in charge of the World Bank, that one of its main objectives is to fight corruption and poverty gives his missus a fat paycheck. He should lose his job, otherwise the World Bank will become synonymous to corruption itself.

Evangelos, Brighton,

Wolfowitz made a mistake. Corrupt nations are trying to capitalize on the issue because he tried to stop the "seepage" of loan money into the hands of the politicians of those countries. I hope he stays on and exposes the corrupt leaders.

Roger, New York, USA

Blair rubber-stamped the approval of this Bush acolyte.

There is no way that Blair could not have known exactly who and what Wolfowitz is.

How anyone could think that this narrow, ideologically-driven neo-con was qualified to head the World Bank is beyond comprehension.

Blair's choice is to declare himself to be naive about or complicit in Wolfowitz's appointment.

In either case, his acceptance of Wolfowitz is just another indication of how powerless Blair (and consequently, Britain) is when it comes to opposing any of Bush's wishes.

RAS, Bloomfield Hills, MI, USA

I think I'd like to get a job at this bank...

Jim , Sacramento, California

I cannot believe he would have been stupid enough to throw a big bung to his girlfriend so perhaps he personally approved a normal pay change simply because he knew who it was.

Has anyone actually identified whether the payrise was materially different from what would routinely have been approved anyway?

Dean, Gibraltar,

Couldn't have happened to a nicer man.

Huge, Basingstoke, Hampshire

I thought this sort of behaviour is called corruption. He should go.

Michael Smith, Southampton, UK

It is no longer a case of ¨should he stay or should go¨...he has, as a leader of an institution, set a standard that cannot be tolerated. If he stays he becomes an unethical cancer in the organization.
The position must remain free of ethical questions.
Do the right thing this time Mr. Wolfowitz.

Mark Hardman, Cd. Juarez, Chih, Mexico