UNITED NATIONS, April 13 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Tuesday he would soon name panel members to investigate allegations of Iraq oil-for-food program fraud and corruption.
"We are quite close and I'm in touch with panel members who would investigate this in an independent manner," the secretary-general told reporters at U.N. World Headquarters in New York. "I hope to be able to make the announcement in the course of the week."
"We are going to investigate these allegations very seriously and with a very thorough, independent investigation."
Last month, in response to published allegations, the secretary-general said his intention was to set up an independent, high-level inquiry to investigate the charges -- a move later endorsed by the Security Council.
Begun in 1996, the U.N. Oil-for-Food program allowed Iraq to use a portion of its petroleum revenues to purchase humanitarian relief. The effort was monitored by the Security Council "661" committee, which included representatives from all 15 countries on the council.
