Indian Minister Gets Demoted
The Indian government demoted Foreign Minister Natwar Singh to minister without portfolio Monday after accusations that he had profited from corruption in the U.N. oil-for-food program for Iraq.
An independent United Nations inquiry named Singh and the ruling Congress Party as a “non-contractual beneficiary” of the $64-billion humanitarian program.
Under the program, Iraq was allowed to sell oil to buy necessary goods to help its people cope with sanctions imposed after it invaded Kuwait in 1990.
Singh has said he received no favors or bribes.
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