Galloway contra The Telegraph
Labour MP for Glasgow Kelvin, George Galloway, issued libel proceedings against The Daily Telegraph yesterday in a bid to iron out his connection with Saddam Hussein’s regime.
Mr. Galloway, who was suspended from the party for his vociferous opposition to the US-led war against Iraq, wants damages and a public apology for the ‘lies’ printed in the Telegraph.
The newspaper alleges he received about 375,000 pounds from the Iraqi regime and met an Iraqi intelligence officer during a visit to Baghdad.
As evidence, the Telegraph says it has documents found in the Iraqi foreign ministry.
Editor of the Telegraph, Charles Moore, said the libel action would be defended.
Mr. Galloway is also launching action against Boston-based The Christian Science Monitor, which alleged Mr. Galloway had received $10 million to boost Iraq’s reputation in the West. The American newspaper has since retracted a story after the document was later said to be forged.
Mr. Galloway rejects the allegations the he received money from the “oil for food” programme and a number of food contracts agreed with Iraq’s ministry of trade.
He also denies the claim that he used the Mariam Appeal as a front to conceal commercial dealings with the Iraqi intelligence service.
