WASHINGTON (AP):

A SPECIAL panel has found that World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz broke bank rules in arranging a pay package and promotion for his girlfriend, a person familiar with the report said yesterday.

Wolfowitz was presented with the findings by the special bank panel investigating his handling of the 2005 promotion and pay raise of bank employee Shaha Riza.

The report was not made public, but the person familiar with its findings confirmed that violations were cited, but did not provide any details. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity, because the report has not yet been released.

World Bank officials were bracing for a finding that Wolfowitz may have breached conflict of interest rules in arranging the pay package for Riza. The controversy over Riza's pay package has spurred calls for Wolfowitz's resignation. He is fighting to hold on to his job.