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| Ex UN oil-for-food chief charged | Ex UN oil-for-food chief charged |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The former head of the UN oil-for-food programme for Iraq, Benon Sevan, has been charged with bribery and conspiracy to commit fraud by the US. | The former head of the UN oil-for-food programme for Iraq, Benon Sevan, has been charged with bribery and conspiracy to commit fraud by the US. |
| Mr Sevan, 69, the programme's former executive director, is charged along with another man, Ephraim Nadler. | Mr Sevan, 69, the programme's former executive director, is charged along with another man, Ephraim Nadler. |
| According to the indictment issued by a New York court, Mr Sevan received $160,000 (£81,500, 123,850 euros) from the Baghdad government via Mr Nadler. | According to the indictment issued by a New York court, Mr Sevan received $160,000 (£81,500, 123,850 euros) from the Baghdad government via Mr Nadler. |
| Mr Sevan, who worked for the UN for four decades, resigned in August 2005. | Mr Sevan, who worked for the UN for four decades, resigned in August 2005. |
| At the time he criticised former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for "sacrificing" him as he faced an inquiry into the scandal-ridden programme. | At the time he criticised former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for "sacrificing" him as he faced an inquiry into the scandal-ridden programme. |
| Illicit revenue | |
| US attorney Michael Garcia said that the US had lodged warrants for the arrest of both men and would seek their extradition to the US for prosecution. | |
| The oil-for-food programme, set up in 1996, was intended to allow Iraq to sell its oil in return for humanitarian relief, so it would not breach sanctions imposed after the first Iraq war. | The oil-for-food programme, set up in 1996, was intended to allow Iraq to sell its oil in return for humanitarian relief, so it would not breach sanctions imposed after the first Iraq war. |
| It was formally ended in 2003 after the US-led invasion of Iraq and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. | It was formally ended in 2003 after the US-led invasion of Iraq and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. |
| The BBC's UN correspondent, Laura Trevelyan, says the corruption allegations that engulfed the programme have made it the biggest financial scandal in the organisation's history. | |
| A spokesman for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the body "reiterates the commitment to have the United Nations uphold the highest ethical standards". | |
| Mr Nadler, a brother in law of former UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, is accused of channelling the money between the Iraqi government and Mr Sevan. | |
| If convicted, both Mr Nadler and Mr Sevan, a Cypriot, could face lengthy jail sentences. |