for-food programme from 1996 to 2003, Iraq was permitted to sell oil to pay for food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies to ease the burden of sanctions. Saddam, however, allegedly managed to skim profits from the programme, possibly with the help of U.N. officials brokering deals. Volcker's report did not accuse anyone of criminal wrongdoing, and it remains unclear if any U.N. officials profited from oil deals. Volcker said he would issue his complete report in the Middle East this year. Ereli said the United States wanted to see the full report before coming to any definitive conclusions, and would also wait until other investigations are complete. The U.S. Congress and the Justice Department are also investigating the allegations. The chairman of the committee, Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman, has called for U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to step down over the ordeal. -
