Paul Wolfowitz and his close female friend Shaha Riza. (File Photo)

    BEIJING, May 11 (Xinhuanet) -- European leaders have stepped up pressure on World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz by telling the Bush administration that Wolfowitz must step down to avoid being ousted by a vote by the bank's board next week, New York Times reported Thursday.

    "The administration has been told that its battle to save Wolfowitz cannot be won," a European official was quoted as saying. "His relationship with the (World Bank's) board is not only damaged. It is broken."

    Some European countries have threated to cut down the contributions to the World Bank if Wolfowitz remained in office, according to the report. The bank's board is said to be drafting a resolution to express its view that the relationship between Wolfowitz and the governing body of the bank had "broken beyond repair."

    Earlier reports said the bank's board is leaning toward taking stern disciplinary action against Wolfowitz, with some bank officials saying there could be majority support in favor of calling for Wolfowitz's removal as early as this week

    On Thursday, the United States continued its support for the embattle World Bank chief with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson saying "the whole world is watching" to see that Wolfowitz is treated fairly.

    The U.S. State Department said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has reached out to her European counterparts to voice her support for Wolfowitz.

    (Agencies)