French helped Iraq to stifle dissent

The Daily Telegraph ^ | April 28, 2003 | Alex Spillius and Andrew Sparrow

[MadIvan]

France colluded with the Iraqi secret service to undermine a Paris conference held by the prominent human rights group Indict, according to documents found in the foreign ministry in Baghdad.

Various documents state that the Iraqis believed the French were doing their utmost to prevent the meeting from going ahead.

Ann Clwyd, the Labour MP who chairs Indict, said last night that she would be demanding an apology from the French government for its behaviour, which she described as "atrocious".

The files, retrieved from the looted and burned foreign ministry by The Telegraph last week, detail the warmth and strength of Iraqi-French ties.

They include a six-page letter dated February 1998 from Saddam Hussein to Jacques Chirac, welcoming the French president's support in the campaign against sanctions and assuring him that Iraq did not have weapons of mass destruction.

The documents regarding Indict show that pro-Saddam elements, "Iraqi and Arab brothers", gained access to the conference, which opened on April 14, 2000, at the Hotel La Concorde Lafayette.

Indict's attempt to mount a protest outside the Iraqi ambassador's residence was foiled by the authorities.

A month after the meeting, a letter headed "Role of Southern France" (sic) from Saddam's office authorised the finance ministry to pay $383,439 to undisclosed beneficiaries.

Perhaps the most damning document is from the Iraqi intelligence service, Iris. The service, known as the Mukhabarat in Iraq, operated as the domestic secret police and as an external intelligence agency.

Its role abroad was to collect intelligence, murder opponents and maintain relations with friendly groups. The document, dated March 28, 2000, is from the head of Iris to Saddam's office.

At the time the organisation was run by Tahir Jalil al-Habbush, number 14 on America's wanted list. The letter appears to be written by a different hand from one revealed last week purporting to record that George Galloway benefited from contracts under the oil for food programme. But it carries the same signature.

It states that "one of our sources" met the "deputy spokesman" of the French foreign ministry, "with whom he has good relations".

It claims that the spokesman from the justice and interior ministries had sought to find a legal way of preventing the Indict meeting.

The paper said it had been agreed that no Iraqi opposition leaders would be granted visas for France to attend the conference. It is not clear if Iraqis living outside the country were granted visas.

Although the conference went ahead, the Iraqis regarded moves to undermine it as a striking success.

A memo dated April 18, 2000, was sent to Saddam's office by the then foreign minister, Mohammad Said al-Sahaf, who later became the information minister nicknamed "Comical Ali". It is headed "The Failed Enemy Conference in Paris" and says that the French media ignored the event.

Miss Clwyd, MP for Cynon Valley, recalled various attempts at disruption.

Saddam supporters staged a protest outside before it started, she said, and at one point a bomb scare led to the hall having to be evacuated.

Victims of Saddam's regime gave evidence at the conference and filming was strictly forbidden because they feared being identified.

But someone smuggled in a camera and started filming, Miss Clwyd said.

"The police were called. But they could not take the film from the man because he was an Iraqi accredited to the Moroccan embassy."

The French foreign ministry denied collusion.

A Quai d'Orsay source said it should not come as a surprise that French officials met Iraqi intelligence officers in Baghdad. But he denied accusations of specific collaboration to disrupt the conference.

[MadIvan]

You bastards, France.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[Arkinsaw]

Will the non-Muslim French populace care? I think not.

[Dog Gone]

I don't think any new revelation about France and Iraq would surprise me now. When I remember de Villepan's speech at the UN about how France stood for the moral highground, it's all I can do not to gag.

French whores.

[Mister Baredog]

"The police were called. But they could not take the film from the man because he was an Iraqi accredited to the Moroccan embassy."

You have to wonder how many Iraqis died from this one exposure. When the full story is written I sincerely doubt that the French will be very welcome in Baghdad, eh Ivan.

[MEG33]

It may make them more popular.

[ellery]

bttt

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Too bad for France that Iraq kept good records. We're just starting to find out how France was in bed with Saddam, and I'll bet there's plenty left to be found out.

[HitmanLV]

Is there a Galloway here in the states? I've had that feeling that this will be one of the big stories in the coming weeks.

[MadIvan]

I have a feeling this is just the tip of the iceberg. No wonder they were so nervous about us going into Iraq.

Regards, Ivan

[Madcelt]

Agreed. This is just the tip of the "iceberg." There are "several" large crates for various "nations"(US included) and international organizations EU and UN. I wonder if some in this country(USA) are like Galloway. I myself believe if there are..............HANG'EM!! Normally, I would support hard labour as a sentence. But, Treason and collusion in aiding and abetting of crimes against Humanity,well,my compassion draws the line there. There should be public trials then public executions. Mercy is a worthwhile thing. But even Mercy has "limits"!(Yes I know it won't be public, but then again.....theres always hope!)

[MadIvan]

ping

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I have a feeling this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Bill Kristol said as much this morning on Tony Snows Sunday Morning show based on what he had heard from various sources.

Can't find a transcript though!

[BOBTHENAILER]

Bill Kristol said as much this morning on Tony Snows Sunday Morning show based on what he had heard from various sources.

"THE DNC FILES"...coming to a theatre soon.

[MadIvan]

As Shakespeare put it - "Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill". If we allow the French to get away with this, we will have written a blank cheque for them to do this in the future with other regimes.

Regards, Ivan

[Leisler]

I have to come to the defense of French Whores. They ought not be associated with ChIraq and his bootlicks. Even fresh, hot pavement dog doo on the sole of one's shoe is more noble than the Frog King.

[Madcelt]

Once again. I agree. There must be an "accounting" for this. One way or the other, justice must prevail and be served.

[river rat]

"Will the non-Muslim French populace care? I think not."

Is there a non-Muslim French population?

I doubt it.
Semper Fi