The bill for agency staff has soared by 65% since a recruitment freeze for all but the most crucial posts was ordered across Whitehall.

Mr. Holbrooke, 52, has been an instant success in this crucial American diplomatic post.

To oversee all this, the Islamists have appointed university professors, including many educated abroad, to crucial posts.

Four other family members, including a sister, brother and cousin, hold crucial posts, including his father Edgar, the bank's president.

Below the top level, Mr. Ackermann has moved rapidly to install his own team in crucial posts.

Meeting the deadline is unlikely at this point, with various factions bogged down in disagreements over policy and the distribution of crucial posts.

Iraqi voters chose a new Parliament in December, but politicians are still haggling over crucial posts.

But not for such a crucial post.

The post of Ombudsman is a crucial post for European democracy.

After holding crucial posts in training aviators for the war effort, he was medically discharged in April 1945.