Yer_Maw
22nd April 2003, 14:08
George Galloway, ive never really liked him and he is my mp! I think he probably did this...
Galloway denies he was paid by Saddam
HELEN PUTTICK
GEORGE Galloway last night denied a newspaper report that he received hundreds of thousands of pounds from Saddam Hussein's regime.
The Glasgow MP, who campaigned against the war on Iraq, said documents allegedly showing he had asked a secret agent for a greater cut of Iraq's exports under the oil-for-food programme, were either doctored or forged and were part of a smear campaign.
According to the Daily Telegraph, an Iraqi spy wrote a letter to Saddam in January 2000 which stated that the MP for Glasgow Kelvin took a slice of oil earnings worth £375,000 a year.
The newspaper said the MP, who fiercely opposed the US-led military action, entered into partnership with a named Iraqi oil broker to sell oil on the international market.
The Telegraph said the papers were found by one of its journalists in the looted foreign ministry in Baghdad.
The documents suggested that while he was campaigning for his anti-war charity, the Mariam Appeal, Mr Galloway was conducting a relationship with Iraqi intelligence behind the scenes.
In a statement, Mr Galloway insisted the documents were either forged or doctored and were designed to discredit him because of his opposition to the war.
"I have never solicited nor received money from Iraq for our campaign against war and sanctions," he said.
"I have never seen a barrel of oil, never owned one, never bought one, never sold one."
He said the newspaper's claim that he had met Iraqi intelligence officials was incorrect "to the best of my knowledge".
"Given that I have had access over the years to Iraq's political leadership, most often the deputy prime minister Tariq Aziz, I would have absolutely no reason to be meeting with an official of Iraqi intelligence," he said.
Mr Galloway said that he had not seen the documents because he was out of the country writing a book about Iraq. But he added: "From the way they have been described to me, I can state that they bear all the hallmarks of having been either forged or doctored and are designed to discredit those who stood against the war."
They were part of what he described as a "smear campaign against those who stood against the illegal and bloody war on Iraq and against its occupation by foreign forces".
Mr Galloway added: "The idea that such documents have, as if to order, come to light just days after the massive assault on Baghdad, the looting and destruction of its ministries and government buildings and the chaos in the country, must be treated as highly suspect."
The MP said that the Mariam Appeal had only three significant donors, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and a Jordanian businessman, Fawaz Zeurekat, who took over responsibility for the charity.
"Any interests I had in relation to the Mariam Appeal are registered in the House of Commons Register of Members Interests."
The Mariam Appeal, named after an Iraqi child, did not receive any financial help from Iraq for its activities, the MP added.
During the war Mr Galloway attracted criticism for branding Tony Blair and George Bush "wolves" who were attacking Iraq.
His remarks could result in reprimand or even expulsion from the Labour party.
- April 22nd
from www.theherald.co.uk
and the link to the original story in the telegraph:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/04/22/ngall22.xml&sSheet=/portal/2003/04/22/ixportaltop.html
Galloway denies he was paid by Saddam
HELEN PUTTICK
GEORGE Galloway last night denied a newspaper report that he received hundreds of thousands of pounds from Saddam Hussein's regime.
The Glasgow MP, who campaigned against the war on Iraq, said documents allegedly showing he had asked a secret agent for a greater cut of Iraq's exports under the oil-for-food programme, were either doctored or forged and were part of a smear campaign.
According to the Daily Telegraph, an Iraqi spy wrote a letter to Saddam in January 2000 which stated that the MP for Glasgow Kelvin took a slice of oil earnings worth £375,000 a year.
The newspaper said the MP, who fiercely opposed the US-led military action, entered into partnership with a named Iraqi oil broker to sell oil on the international market.
The Telegraph said the papers were found by one of its journalists in the looted foreign ministry in Baghdad.
The documents suggested that while he was campaigning for his anti-war charity, the Mariam Appeal, Mr Galloway was conducting a relationship with Iraqi intelligence behind the scenes.
In a statement, Mr Galloway insisted the documents were either forged or doctored and were designed to discredit him because of his opposition to the war.
"I have never solicited nor received money from Iraq for our campaign against war and sanctions," he said.
"I have never seen a barrel of oil, never owned one, never bought one, never sold one."
He said the newspaper's claim that he had met Iraqi intelligence officials was incorrect "to the best of my knowledge".
"Given that I have had access over the years to Iraq's political leadership, most often the deputy prime minister Tariq Aziz, I would have absolutely no reason to be meeting with an official of Iraqi intelligence," he said.
Mr Galloway said that he had not seen the documents because he was out of the country writing a book about Iraq. But he added: "From the way they have been described to me, I can state that they bear all the hallmarks of having been either forged or doctored and are designed to discredit those who stood against the war."
They were part of what he described as a "smear campaign against those who stood against the illegal and bloody war on Iraq and against its occupation by foreign forces".
Mr Galloway added: "The idea that such documents have, as if to order, come to light just days after the massive assault on Baghdad, the looting and destruction of its ministries and government buildings and the chaos in the country, must be treated as highly suspect."
The MP said that the Mariam Appeal had only three significant donors, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and a Jordanian businessman, Fawaz Zeurekat, who took over responsibility for the charity.
"Any interests I had in relation to the Mariam Appeal are registered in the House of Commons Register of Members Interests."
The Mariam Appeal, named after an Iraqi child, did not receive any financial help from Iraq for its activities, the MP added.
During the war Mr Galloway attracted criticism for branding Tony Blair and George Bush "wolves" who were attacking Iraq.
His remarks could result in reprimand or even expulsion from the Labour party.
- April 22nd
from www.theherald.co.uk
and the link to the original story in the telegraph:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/04/22/ngall22.xml&sSheet=/portal/2003/04/22/ixportaltop.html