Finance ministers from around the world are gathering in Washington for meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
However, the meetings are likely to be overshadowed by the controversy over the World Bank's President, Paul Wolfowitz.
He is under mounting pressure to resign after he admitted helping his partner, Shaha Riza, win a promotion at the bank.
Mr Wolfowitz has the backing of the Bush Administration, but the World Bank's Staff Association has said he should step down.
