Brits drop Saudi bribery inquiry

LONDON, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- British leaders are reported dropping an investigation into alleged bribery of Saudi Arabia officials by BAE Systems, reports say.

BAE is the United Kingdom's prime defense contractor.

Dropping the investigation was a move said to avoid further embarrassing the Saudi royal family, to whom $117.9 million in bribes allegedly had been paid, the Times of London reported.

The inquiry also was said to threaten a new $19.6 million defense deal awarded BAE.

British Attorney General Peter Goldsmith told the House of Lords that British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the heads of the intelligence services agreed it was in the national interest to stop the investigation, which he said would take another 18 months to complete.

The move was attacked by Liberal Democrats.

BAE, accused of setting up a slush fund to bribe Saudi officials and businessmen during the 1980s, consistently denied any wrongdoing.