saddam got aussie farm cash

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17057855-2,00.html

Saddam got Aussie farm cash
From: By Blair Speedy
October 28, 2005


Damning ... probe chairman Paul Volcker releases the findings. AUSTRALIAN wheat sales to Iraq were used to illegally funnel about $US200 million ($262.78 million) from the UN humanitarian oil-for-food program to prop up Saddam Hussein's murderous regime.

Farmers last night expressed fury that their grain had been used in illicit deals that could still be funding the bloody insurgency in Iraq.
The Howard Government was bracing itself for an explosive UN report, which identifies the AWB as one of 3000 companies involved in the corruption scandal that siphoned $US12.8 billion ($16.82 billion) to Saddam over the seven years the program operated.

Report: The UN Oil for Food inquiry

The report, by UN chief investigator Paul Volcker, which was released early this morning (AEST), says the AWB, formerly the Australian Wheat Board, was involved in providing $US200 million in payments to a transport firm, but also finds there is insufficient evidence to show the AWB or its executives were aware the money was ultimately going to Saddam.

Shares in AWB, which earlier this month touched a record high of $5.41, collapsed yesterday afternoon, falling 23c ahead of the release of the Volcker report.