WASHINGTON, April 17 (Xinhuanet) -- Outgoing World Bank President James Wolfensohn said Sunday he plans to go to Gaza as early as next week in his first trip as special envoy of the Middle East.

    When asked by the media that when his first voyage to the Gazain his new post would be, he said: "I don't yet know, but probably it will be next week."

    Wolfensohn was named on Thursday as "special envoy" to help coordinate Israel's planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and to spearhead reconstruction efforts once the Palestinians take over the area.

    US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made the announcement onbehalf of the "quartet" of Middle East peace mediators -- the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations --to which Wolfensohn would report.

    Wolfensohn is to step down as the World Bank chief on May 31 and he will assume his new duties on June 1. The World Bank has authorized him to begin preparatory work of his new duties immediately. Enditem