Report clears UN's Annan of interference

A key inquiry into the United Nations Oil-for-Food programme has concluded that the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, did not interfere in the awarding of a contract in Iraq to a firm that employed his son.

However, the report faulted Mr Annan for what it said was an 'inadequate' inquiry into his son Kojo's employment with the Swiss-based firm Cotecna, hired by the UN to verify goods coming into Iraq.

Reacting to the publication, Mr Annan said the report, as he had expected, had cleared him of any wrongdoing.

The report was prepared by a commission headed by the former US Federal Reserve Chairman, Paul Volcker.