World Bank officials have voiced deep concern over the impact to their work from the crisis surrounding the bank's embattled chief Paul Wolfowitz.

In a letter to Wolfowitz and the bank's executive board, a group of 32 officials said they could no longer credibly implement the bank's anti-corruption strategy.

The letter also called for a clear and decisive action to be taken.

It was the clearest sign yet that the controversy sparked by Wolfowitz's approval of a promotion and a large pay increase for his female friend was affecting the bank's operations around the globe.

"The credibility of our front line staff is eroding in the face of legitimate questions from our clients about the bank's ability to 'practice what it preaches' on governance," the letter said.

The letter follows calls by the bank's staff association for Wolfowitz to step down over his handling of the promotion for Shaha Riza, before she was posted by the bank to the State Department because of their relationship.

In their letter, the group said the crisis was a critical test of the bank's own commitment to good governance.

DB/DB