Friday, May 6, 2005
New Docs 'Prove' Kofi Lied to Probers
U.N. investigators have turned over to Congress boxes of evidence on the Oil-for-Food program, including "proof" that U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan lied to the Independent Inquiry Committee probing the scandal, Fox News Channel reporter Jonathan Hunt said Thursday.
"One source close to the case told me that in those boxes is the ammunition to prove that Kofi Annan lied to investigators," Hunt told Fox News Radio host Tony Snow. "So this is a very dramatic development indeed."
Hunt said the documents had been in the possession of U.N. investigator Robert Parton, who resigned from the probe two weeks ago charging that Annan was being let off the hook.
"The boxes contain the almost complete records of Parton's investigation," Hunt told Snow, explaining, "It looks very embarrassing for Kofi Annan right now - it's a very bad thing."
Congress has been trying to talk to Parton and another prober, Miranda Duncan, since they resigned, Fox News reported on its Web site. But Paul Volcker, who heads the Oil-for-Food probe, tried to block their testimony, insisting the duo had diplomatic immunity.
Sen. Norm Coleman, who chairs the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, said he's prepared to issue subpoenas that would force Parton and Duncan to testify over Volcker's objections.
U.N. investigators have turned over to Congress boxes of evidence on the Oil-for-Food program, including "proof" that U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan lied to the Independent Inquiry Committee probing the scandal, Fox News Channel reporter Jonathan Hunt said Thursday.
"One source close to the case told me that in those boxes is the ammunition to prove that Kofi Annan lied to investigators," Hunt told Fox News Radio host Tony Snow. "So this is a very dramatic development indeed."
Hunt said the documents had been in the possession of U.N. investigator Robert Parton, who resigned from the probe two weeks ago charging that Annan was being let off the hook.
"The boxes contain the almost complete records of Parton's investigation," Hunt told Snow, explaining, "It looks very embarrassing for Kofi Annan right now - it's a very bad thing."
Congress has been trying to talk to Parton and another prober, Miranda Duncan, since they resigned, Fox News reported on its Web site. But Paul Volcker, who heads the Oil-for-Food probe, tried to block their testimony, insisting the duo had diplomatic immunity.
Sen. Norm Coleman, who chairs the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, said he's prepared to issue subpoenas that would force Parton and Duncan to testify over Volcker's objections.
