Russia, Iraq to Probe Oil Deals

MOSCOW, 26 July 2004 — Russia and Iraq are to scrutinize commercial deals signed while deposed dictator Saddam Hussein was in power, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said yesterday. “An agreement has been reached to appoint representatives of the Iraqi and Russian governments to check on all the Russian contracts agreed under the previous Iraqi regime, including in the framework of the (United Nations) oil for food program,” Zebari, who is on a visit to Moscow said, according to the Ria-Novosti news agency.