Brown's snub for Wolfowitz

Gordon Brown delighted aid agencies today when he failed to endorse the appointment of a key George Bush ally to head the World Bank.

Paul Wolfowitz, the deputy US defence secretary and the man credited with dreaming up the war on Iraq, was nominated by President Bush for the top job last night.

But when asked to comment the Chancellor made clear it had yet to be approved by other countries and stressed the move was "not a decision made by the Treasury".

The move was greeted with anger by development agencies and anti-poverty groups. Some British aid charities called the proposed appointment "truly terrifying".

Patrick Watt, policy officer of ActionAid, welcomed the Chancellor's reticence.

"I think it is a hopeful move," he said. "We now want European countries to use their influence to reject this nomination."

Frank Gaffney, a leading security adviser to the White House, poured petrol on the flames by saying the appointment of Mr Wolfowitz would form part of America's "war on terror".