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Iraq Defense Minister Received $8 Million Bribe From U.S.: Source

Tehran Times
July 31, 2004

TEHRAN (MNA) -- Some Iraqi officials have realized that Defense Minister Hazem al-Shaalan has received at least eight-million-dollar bribe from the U.S. administration, a source close to the interim Iraqi government has revealed.

Shaalan’s links with the ousted Iraqi government and the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) are known to everyone in Iraq and he is considered a great traitor to the nation and country, the source, who declined to be identified, told the Mehr News Agency.

The source who holds a post in the Iraqi administration also said the recent anti-Iran remarks by Shaalan are meant to meet this purpose.

Shaalan told the Washington Post on Monday that Iran remains his country's "first enemy". "I've seen clear interference in Iraqi issues by Iran," Shaalan said. “Iran interferes in order to kill democracy." The source said the eight-million-dollar bribe has been transferred into his personal account in a Britain-based by the U.S.

Praising his statements against Iran, the Washington officials have asked other Iraqi officials to adopt a similar approach toward Iran, he said.

Some officials in the Basra governorate have told our correspondent that Shaalan has ordered that the former Iraqi security forces loyal to the toppled Baath party be returned to the new-fledged Iraqi security forces.

A security force in Basra also revealed that the recent information has shown that the White House has tasked Shaalan to coordinate the presence of the Israeli intelligence forces under different names and that his position as Defense Minister is in line with this purpose.

http://www.tehrantimes.com/Description.asp?Da=7/31/2004&Cat=2&Num=010