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Saturday, June 2, 2007 |
IPS: "The World Bank has just appointed a new country head for Iraq despite security and corruption concerns, according to a leaked document.
The news emerged just days after outgoing World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz promised not make any major new appointments at the institution.
The Government Accountability Project, a Washington-based watchdog group, released an email it says it obtained from sources inside the Bank showing Daniela Gressani, vice president for the Middle East and North Africa Region, making the announcement.
'I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Simon Stolp as Country Manager, Iraq,' said Gressani in her email, a copy of which was seen by IPS.
A World Bank official in the Middle East department who wished to remain unidentified confirmed the news to IPS.
Stolp, an Australian national, worked previously in Iraq as a consultant for the U.S. Department of Defence where he supported changes in the Iraqi electricity sector. In 2005, he was awarded the Joint Civilian Service Award by the Pentagon, which is granted to civilians who demonstrate high service 'supporting the U.S. military'.
The new appointment, which has not yet been formally announced by the Bank, appears to confirm what many analysts have long suspected about Wolfowitz's relentless attempts to move the Bank back into Iraq - and to boost U.S. policy there - despite internal opposition and the continuing high security risk."
11:02:15 AM 
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CrooksAndLiars: "A Saudi prisoner died at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp today, apparently the fourth person to commit suicide at the controversial US enclave in southeastern Cuba.
Given that we know that many prisoners at Gitmo were simply rounded up and that they have yet to be charged with anything or given any rights to present a defense - for five to six years - I'm surprised that there haven't been more suicides."
10:49:34 AM
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