Leader of FFs Euro Parliament Group linked to Saddam

international | eu | news report Wednesday January 28, 2004 10:32 by allende - lp

The head of the UEN - Union for Europe of the Nations - group in the European Parliament which includes Fianna Fail and the former Italian Fascists Alleanza Nazionale, Charles Pasqua has denied reports in the French media that he received 12 million barrels of oil from Saddam Hussein as a "gift"

Mr Pasqua's name features on a list published by Al-Mada (the Horizon), an Iraqi newspaper, which details those who received gifts from the former Iraqi dictator. Overall, according to Le Monde, 270 people are mentioned on the list from 40 countries, 17 of which are in Europe.

The information was confirmed by Abdel Saheb Salmane Qotob, an official from the Iraqi oil ministry, who also said that the matter would be pursued in court to recuperate the money for the Iraqi people.

Mr Pasqua is alleged to have received 12 million barrels of oil, which, at current prices of 35 dollars a barrel, would net the former French minister about 420 million dollars or over half a billion euro.


Before entering the European Parliament, Mr Pasqua was French interior minister for two spells from 1986-1991 and then again from 1993-1995. His group in the European Parliament has 23 seats (6 Fianna Fail), making it the smallest group.

http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3218,36-350628,0.html