WASHINGTON: The woman at the centre of a scandal that could force the resignation of World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz says she has been victimised and forced to take a transfer she never wanted in the first place.

Shaha Riza said she was surprised when told she had to take an outside assignment because of her relationship with Wolfowitz, according to a recent memo to a committee reviewing her promotion and salary increase, which has caused an uproar at the World Bank.

“I would like to reiterate that I did not wish to leave the bank and I did not, and do not, expect any special considerations,” she said.

“I did not wish to leave the bank,” she said. “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.”

—Reuters