Wolfowitz decision due on Tuesday

Protesters held a leaving party to encourage Mr Wolfowitz to resign

The board of the World Bank has delayed a decision on the fate of its president Paul Wolfowitz until Tuesday, 15 May.

Mr Wolfowitz has been given more time to respond to a draft report on his handling of a promotion and pay rise for his partner Shaha Riza.

The board will meet on Tuesday when Mr Wolfowitz will be given the opportunity to respond in person if he wants to.

Democrats have called on President Bush to intervene as Mr Wolfowitz battles calls for his resignation.

In a letter to President Bush, senior Democrats said the affair was damaging the World Bank and undermining US interests.

Farewell party

Mr Wolfowitz has apologised for "mistakes" made over the promotion and pay issue, but has insisted he should remain in his job.

Protesters held a farewell party for Mr Wolfowitz outside the World Bank's headquarters in Washington.

Four demonstrators chanted: "No more gifts for your honey, no more stealing the poor's money".

World Bank rules prohibit managers from supervising employees with whom they have a close personal relationship.

When Mr Wolfowitz took over the top job in June 2005 he moved Ms Riza from her job at the World Bank to an attachment at the State Department, that involved a promotion and large pay rise.

The US administration continues to publicly support him while European governments have repeated their calls for his resignation.

The Belgian Finance Minister Didier Reynders said: "It's impossible to go everywhere in the world to speak about good governance and not to have good governance in the World Bank."