The World Bank said Thursday its security was investigating a
bomb threat made by telephone and asked its staff at its Washington
headquarters to stay home on Friday.
"The bank is working with law enforcement officials to determine
the validity of the threat," the bank said in a statement.
"As a precautionary measure, bank group management has decided
to close all World Bank group leased and owned buildings in
Washington on Friday," it added.
The poverty-fighting institution is situated about a block from
White House and employs about 8,000 in at least seven buildings in
downtown Washington. The bank's sister organization, the
International Monetary Fund, said it would be open on Friday.
(Xinhua News Agency via agencies January 18, 2008)
