Sydney — A senior World Bank official with alleged links to Opus Dei reportedly removed all references to contraception in the bank's program for Madagascar.

Media reports indicate that El Salvadorean, Juan Jose Daboub, ordered staff to remove all references to family planning from its country assistance program document for Madagascar.

Specific targets relating to contraception were also deleted from the document. The original draft committed the Bank to work to increase contraception uptake from 14 per cent in 2004 to 20 per cent; the final document contained no goal.

Mr Daboub was appointed by the World Bank president, Paul Wolfowitz, and has been the focus of opposition from bank staff.

In the past, the World Bank has championed the sexual and reproductive rights of women. Wolfowitz is being accused of undermining the bank's commitment to women's health by appointing the El Salvadorian Catholic.

Mr Daboub's intervention was reportedly revealed through a leaked email from the country program co-ordinator at the bank, Lilia Burunciuc, who warned that the absence of family planning policies would be a problem because Madagascar had specifically asked for them. Mr Daboub has defended himself, saying the bank's policies had not changed, and Mr Wolfowitz also said there was no change.

Mr Daboub is the former finance minister of El Salvador and a member of the Arena party, which is close to the Catholic church. It is said he is a member of Opus Dei.