The commission was set up in 1976

And a spokesperson for the First Division Association, which represents Dr Ally, has confirmed there was a complaint concerning his behaviour towards another member of staff

But the union's assistant general secretary, Robin Daley, has strongly denied reports that he has been accused of financial impropriety.

An internal inquiry into the case is to be launched next week, and Ms Daley urged the commission to get on with it.

Dr Ally was appointed to the �40,000 job running the commission's newly revamped body in Wales two years ago.

An expert in Islamic affairs, he had previously been an academic at Lampeter University.

A CRE Wales spokeswoman confirmed on Thursday that Dr Ally had been told to stay away from work while the investigation was carried out.

'Upset and concerned'

There have been tensions recently amongst organisations representing ethnic minorities in Wales.

There has been another CRE investigation into allegations from the All Wales Ethnic Minority Association that grant applications were wrong.

That report has not yet been published, but Ms Daley said there was no question of any wrong doing on Dr Ally's part.

Speaking to BBC Wales on Thursday, Dr Ally said he did not know what the allegations made against him consisted of, but said he was upset and concerned to have been suspended.

Race Equality Commissioner for Wales Cherry Short has urged Dr Ally's critics to wait for the result of the internal investigation.

In the meantime, a spokesman revealed that Andrew Housely, a regional commissioner based in Birmingham, would take over Dr Ally's responsibilities.

The CRE - who said it would be making no further comment - is a publicly funded, non-governmental body which was set up under the Race Relations Act 1976 to tackle racial discrimination and promote racial equality.