"The telecom companies simply have to produce a piece of paper we already know exists, resulting in immediate dismissal, " Fredrickson said in a written statement.

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Members of the board believed his dismissal was needed to "maintain the vitality of the bank", the Vatican statement said.

BBC: Vatican Bank chief Tedeschi dismissed

Similarly, the dismissal of the North Korean accords was partly influenced by the administration's annoyance at an earlier statement by South Korea and Russia which contained language the administration regarded as critical of its wish to have an anti-missile shield.

ECONOMIST: Working out the world