for-food program, established in December 1996 and terminated in 2003 after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Under the program, former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein could sell oil to buy civilian goods to ease the impact of the sanctions on ordinary Iraqis. Since new Iraqi leaders came to office, Iraq has released lists of bribes from the Saddam government to political groups and individuals in a quest to get the sanctions lifted. The program is now the target of several corruption investigations by Congress. Some U.S. records from the Security Council committee have been turned over and released to Congressional investigators. They showed council members were aware of numerous irregularities in oil contracts, but often could not agree on a course of action. Volcker has released interim reports in February and March and Dujarric said three more were expected: one in late July, a comprehensive one in August and perhaps another in late September that would deal with companies that received contracts under the program. --SP 2251 Local Time 1951 GMT
