Kuwait orders probe into deal supplying fuel to US military in Iraq

[Barrett808]

KUWAIT CITY (AFP) - Kuwaiti Energy Minister Sheikh Ahmad Fahd al-Sabah has ordered a judicial probe into allegations that officials have profited from a deal with US oil services giant Halliburton to supply fuel to the US military in Iraq.

However, angry lawmakers, warning the issue could hurt strategic US-Kuwaiti ties, said the minister's action was not enough and threatened to conduct a parliamentary probe into the corruption allegations.

"In view of reports about the deal to supply the US Army with oil and gas products through a contractor which reached the extent of defaming some ... the supply agreement between Kuwait Petroleum Corp. (KPC) and the contractor has been referred to the public prosecutor for investigation," the official KUNA news agency quoted Sheikh Ahmad as saying Monday.

...

Several Kuwaiti MPs and the local press have alleged that senior officials from KPC and other agencies were involved in the scam. During Monday's parliamentary session, MPs insisted the minister's action was insufficient.

"Referring the Halliburton case to the prosecution is not sufficient. There must be political and administrative questioning because government sides sponsored the case. Kuwait's image has been tarnished," said opposition MP Waleed al-Jari.

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040209/wl_mideast_afp/kuwait_us_iraq_halliburton_justice&cid=1514&ncid=1480

[jpak]

1. Corruption...Halliburton????

Naaaawwwww can't be...