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)