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 SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - Australia's prime minister confirmed Wednesday his government knew of U.N. concerns that the country's monopoly wheat exporter might be paying kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's regime to secure lucrative contracts.
John Howard said the government looked into the concerns and accepted assurances that no improper payments were being made, reiterating long-standing denials that government officials knew about alleged kickbacks.
Documents released Tuesday to an official inquiry into AWB Ltd.'s business dealings in Iraq show the U.N. was concerned of possible kickbacks as early as 2000, and asked the Australian government to investigate. Such payments would break the rules of the U.N. oil-for-food program.
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