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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| US objected to end of BAE inquiry | US objected to end of BAE inquiry |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The US issued a formal diplomatic protest against the ending of the Serious Fraud Office's (SFO) inquiry into BAE Systems, the BBC understands. | The US issued a formal diplomatic protest against the ending of the Serious Fraud Office's (SFO) inquiry into BAE Systems, the BBC understands. |
| The SFO ended its investigation into a 1986 arms deal with Saudi Arabia in December 2006 saying it was not in the public interest to continue. | The SFO ended its investigation into a 1986 arms deal with Saudi Arabia in December 2006 saying it was not in the public interest to continue. |
| In January a US embassy official issued a verbal protest at the Foreign Office. | In January a US embassy official issued a verbal protest at the Foreign Office. |
| BAE said: "Throughout the long SFO investigation we have been consistent in denying allegations of wrongdoing." | BAE said: "Throughout the long SFO investigation we have been consistent in denying allegations of wrongdoing." |
| The SFO was investigating claims that Britain's biggest defence firm had paid bribes to secure the Al Yamamah arms deal with Saudi Arabia in the 1980s. | The SFO was investigating claims that Britain's biggest defence firm had paid bribes to secure the Al Yamamah arms deal with Saudi Arabia in the 1980s. |
| Jet deal | Jet deal |
| It was initially reported in the Financial Times that Washington claimed the SFO decision put the UK in breach of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) anti-corruption convention. | It was initially reported in the Financial Times that Washington claimed the SFO decision put the UK in breach of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) anti-corruption convention. |
| BAE Systems share price | |
| In a statement, the Foreign Office said: "We are clear that Article 5 of the OECD anti-bribery convention did not, and could not, have been intended to preclude national authorities from taking into account such non-political, fundamental considerations of national and international security as applied in this case." | In a statement, the Foreign Office said: "We are clear that Article 5 of the OECD anti-bribery convention did not, and could not, have been intended to preclude national authorities from taking into account such non-political, fundamental considerations of national and international security as applied in this case." |
| The Saudi government was reported to have been angered by the investigation into allegations of a slush fund for members of the country's royal family. | The Saudi government was reported to have been angered by the investigation into allegations of a slush fund for members of the country's royal family. |
| The decision to end the SFO inquiry came weeks after reports that the Saudis were threatening to pull out of a deal to buy 72 Eurofighter jets from BAE. | The decision to end the SFO inquiry came weeks after reports that the Saudis were threatening to pull out of a deal to buy 72 Eurofighter jets from BAE. |
| The US is an important market for BAE Systems, which made 36% of its sales to the US government last year. | |
| The company is using acquisitions such as its purchase of United Defence Industries two years ago to promote itself as a supplier to the Pentagon. |