Galloway dismisses bribe allegations
Former Labour MP George Galloway has dismissed claims he illegally profited from Iraq’s oil for food programme.
Mr Galloway’s name also found its way into the 1,200 page report by the Iraq Survey Group, which named people it alleged received vouchers under the UN scheme to swap oil for basic goods. His name, however, does not appear on the list of names on the CIA website, which also removed all names of US citizens. As Galloway is a fairly common name, it is not completely certain whether it is the Glasgow MP.
The ISG report said top officials from France, Russia and China were targeted by the former dictator.
The report claims Saddam tried to influence world figures with “oil vouchers” in a bid to get UN sanctions lifted.
All have denied the allegations.
The Glasgow Kelvin MP said not “a scintilla of evidence” had been produced to support the claims.
The report mentions “one UK citizen” listed as “a recipient on the list of Iraq’s illicit oil allocation program”.
Mr Galloway said in a statement: “These allegations come from officials of the American-imposed puppet government in Baghdad and the Bush administration itself and are aimed at discrediting those who are opposed to it.
“I report what I said last February. I have never visited the Iraqi oil ministry or to the best of my knowledge met any ministry official.”
Similar allegations against Mr Galloway have emerged in the past, and he is due to begin legal action against the Daily Telegraph in November over previous allegations.
After being expelled from the Labour Party last year, Mr Galloway founded the Respect Party and has continued to be an outspoken critic of the war against Iraq.
