RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY DENIES THAT FRANCE, RUSSIA, CHINA HAMPER INVESTIGATION OF HUMANITARIAN PROGRAM FOR IRAQ

MOSCOW, October 5 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian Foreign Ministry has denied that France, China and Russia hamper the investigation of the former humanitarian program for Iraq, the Foreign Ministry's information and press department said commenting on the Vedomosti publication on the Oil For Food program.

On Tuesday the Russian newspaper Vedomosti quoted The New York Times as saying that France, Russia and China allegedly hampered the investigation of the intrigues of the former Iraqi leadership because these countries' companies had gained much.

"Such statements are absolutely false," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Russia supported the adoption of the UN Security Council's resolution 1538, which established a commission for an independent investigation of the possible abuses within the framework of the former UN humanitarian program for Iraq.

"Russia, as well as other countries, cooperates with this commission. We believe that all countries are interested in this," the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed.