I took Saddam's cash, admits French envoy

[CatWoman]

One of France's most distinguished diplomats has confessed to an investigating judge that he accepted oil allocations from Saddam Hussein, it emerged yesterday.

Jean-Bernard Mérimée is thought to be the first senior figure to admit his role in the oil-for-food scandal, a United Nations humanitarian aid scheme hijacked by Saddam to buy influence.

The Frenchman, who holds the title "ambassador for life", told authorities that he regretted taking payments amounting to $156,000 (then worth about £108,000) in 2002.

The money was used to renovate a holiday home he owned in southern Morocco. At the time, Mr Mérimée was a special adviser to Kofi Annan, the UN secretary general.

According to yesterday's Le Figaro, he told judge Philippe Courroye during an interview on Oct 12: "I should not have done what I did. I regret it."

http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/11/18/wfrance18.xml

[Ignacio Upton]

1. Now the Republicans will use this as another French-bashing incident

They will then use this for their "They were against the war because Saddam Hussein gave them money!" bullshit and banter.

[NYC Liberal]

2. Republicans didn't take from Saddam; they GAVE to Saddam!

[Ignacio Upton]

3. American companies were

involved in Oil For Food as well.

[seabeyond]

4. 156k isnt even worth losing integrity. geez. if you are going to

steal, well in 1960 was a million, today....... what 50 million. per mom. lol