Annan calls for probe into Iraqi oil scheme
AP, United Nations
Secretary General Kofi Annan announced plans Friday for an independent commission to investigate alleged corruption in the Iraq oil-for-food programme.Annan revealed his decision to go beyond a current internal UN probe Friday night in a letter to the Security Council. The world organization has been hit with allegations that UN staff may have reaped millions of dollars from the oil-for-food programme that helped Iraqis cope with UN sanctions. US congressional investigators have also looked into the programme, charging this week that Saddam Hussein's government smuggled oil, added surcharges and collected kickbacks to rake in $10.1 billion in violation of the United Nations' oil-for-food programme. "Hopefully the UN can build upon our work in looking at the books," said Jeff Nelligan, spokesman for the US General Accou-nting Office.
| 
