UNITED NATIONS, March 19 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan proposed an "independent, high level" inquiry into allegations of corruption involving the Iraq Oil-for-Food Program.
In a letter to the Security Council late Friday he said: "Allegations that have been appearing recently in various news media of mismanagement and corruption ... whether or not they are ultimately shown to be well-founded, must be taken seriously and addressed forthrightly."
Because of the significant role played by the Iraqi government "and more generally other member states in the implementation" of the now-defunct program "and the role the (U.N.) secretariat played in the administration and management of the program, I propose to establish an independent, high level inquiry to investigate the allegations relating to the administration and management of the program, including allegations of corruption," Annan said.
Saying such an inquiry would need the support of the council and "active cooperation of (U.N.) member states" the secretary-general promised to present "more detailed information regarding the organization of such an independent inquiry and its terms of reference" to the council at a later date.
