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Jordan, Bulgaria Probe Saddam Bribe Claim
Looks like the kettle just might come to a boil.Jordan and Bulgaria announced Wednesday they were investigating allegations prominent citizens were involved in a scam involving illicit sales of Iraqi oil in exchange for political support of Saddam Hussein while he was Iraqâs leader. And in Egypt, activist Mamdouh el-Sheik said he would ask his countryâs prosecutor-general to reopen an investigation on the involvement of Egyptians after reports about alleged kickbacks. Eqypt and Jordan will be for show, but I wonder if the Bulgarians will be serious about this? An Iraqi newspaper, one of dozens of new dailies that have begun publishing in that country since Saddamâs ouster last April, first reported the alleged bribes this week. Members of the new provisional Iraqi government and opponents of Saddam have since distributed a list of the accused, based on documents from the Iraqi Oil Ministry. Also on the list is the head of the U.N. oil-for- Gosh Marie, you got a URL for the pdf file with the audits? No? "The secretary-general is fully satisfied with Mr. Sevanâs performance and integrity in administering what was a massive and unprecedented humanitarian program." Please donât use the words "integrity" and "secretary-general" in the same sentence. The list gives the names of 14 Amman-based firms and Jordanian citizens, including former government officials and legislators. "The issue is under follow-up, and we are seeking to verify if some people have acquired (Iraqi) graft," Mohammad al-Halaiqa, a deputy prime minister and minister of trade and industry, told Jordanâs parliament in response to an inquiry by deputy Saad Hayel Srour on the alleged bribes. Srour demanded an immediate government "Lies! All lies!" Al-Halaiqa said the Cabinet discussed the alleged Jordanian involvement in the Iraqi bribes at a meeting late Tuesday. Finance Minister Mohammad Abu-Hammore "was given clear instructions to The Baghdad list also says the Bulgarian Socialist Party had sold 12 million barrels of Iraqi oil. Hmmm, even with a $1.00 commission per barrel, these guys sold out cheap. Itâs the Spiro Agnew problem. Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov said the charge that his Socialist Party received money from Iraq was "ill-advised black humor," but he ordered an inquiry into the accusation, his office said Wednesday. The party leader, Sergei Stanishev, told journalists in Bulgaria on Wednesday: "Not a cent from Iraq has been received at our party headquarters." "It all went to our off-shore accounts. You think weâd be crazy enough to bring the loot here?" "The Socialist Party leadership has not negotiated such economic projects with the Baath party. We have not authorized anyone to hold such talks," Stanishev said. He said his party wanted the matter to be "Nope, nope, wudnât us!" Eleven Egyptians or Egyptian companies are also on the Baghdad list, including the son of a former Egyptian president, businessmen, members of parliament and journalists. Former president: Nasser or Sadat? Egyptian activist Mamdouh el-Sheik filed suit in May 2003 against several Egyptian politicians and journalists, accusing them of accepting bribes from Saddam, saying it violates Egyptian laws bans lobbying for foreign countries. "This list will certainly back the charges against these people, who have violated our laws. I hope that the prosecutor-general will allow the case to proceed," el-Sheik told The Associated Press in Cairo. Have a distant cousin start your car in the mornings, Mamdouh. Posted by: Steve White 2004-01-29 |
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