Rudd calls on Downer to clarify claims:Prime Minister Iyad Allawi

[cal04]

Opposition Foreign Affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd has called on the federal government to clarify claims Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi shot and killed up to six prisoners just days before taking over.

Mr Rudd described a report in Saturday's Sydney Morning Herald as "unbelievable" and urged Foreign Minister Alexander Downer to seek comprehensive assurances from Australian Embassy officials in Baghdad and the United States.

He said Walkley Award winning journalist Paul McGeough - who wrote the story - should co-operate with any investigation.
"Mr Downer can't just brush it to one side," Mr Rudd said in Brisbane. "Such reports appear to me to be unbelievable, but because they are written by a credible journalist, Mr Downer's responsibility is to get the truth from the Australian Embassy and the United States.

"There is not much more to say until we have clarification from Mr Downer and this must occur as a matter of urgency." Mr Rudd said the federal government should use Australia's diplomatic network and ties with the US to investigate the claims.

A spokesman for Mr Downer today said the Australian Government had not been able to substantiate the claims, although he conceded the allegations were serious."We, as a country, know nothing about these allegations and we've checked with the Americans and the British, who also know nothing about these allegations," the spokesman said.

"They're obviously quite serious allegations but there's no evidence to support them at this stage; none of the authorities in Iraq that we've been able to contact know anything about them. "So really, the onus is on the people making these allegations to substantiate them and put them to the authorities for investigation."

The spokesman said that if Mr McGeough had information about alleged crimes that had been committed in Iraq, he had a responsibility to take that information to authorities. "There are Iraqi authorities in place now who have the power and capability to investigate any such allegations ... that's where the matter should be dealt with," he said.

The reports have been denied entirely by the Iraqi Prime Minister's office which said Dr Allawi had never visited the centre and he did not carry a gun.The Australian Greens leader, Bob Brown, has called on the Prime Minister, John Howard, to explain his role in the promotion of Iyad Allawi. Senator Brown said the claims made by Paul McGeough were stunning.

"The immediate question is how did Allawi, who helped install Saddam Hussein, become the White House choice to lead this benighted country into freedom and democracy?" Senator Brown said.
Dr Allawi's record was well known to both Mr Howard and United States President George W. Bush, he said. "Our PM should tell Australia about his role in this brutal man's promotion," Senator Brown said. "He should return Australia's defence forces from the service of this bloodcurdling brute."

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/17/1089694601891.html

[daleo]

1. Someone must be worried about this story

Normally you would expect them to just slag the journalist, but this looks like it will be a bit more subtle. I wonder if Chalabi has a hand in this, since Allawi is now one of his main obstacles to claiming the puppet presidency.

[LittleApple81]

2. At least one of the members of the "coalition of the leaving" wants

to find out the truth... that is why I call Australia part of the Coalition of the leaving If this is true, there ain't no way Australians are going to want to stay.