Wolfowitz mistakes "not a firing offense": W.House

A file photo of World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz gesturing during a news conference at the European Union headquarters in Brussels May 2, 2007.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House acknowledged on Tuesday that World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz erred in the handling of a pay raise and promotion for his companion but said that was not cause for him to be removed from his job.

"We've made clear that we support Paul Wolfowitz. Furthermore, he has said -- and we agree -- that certainly a lot of mistakes were made in the personnel process. But it's not a firing offense," White House spokesman Tony Snow told reporters.