Italian Officials Questioned on Iraq Claim

[NashVegas]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Italy-Iraq-Uranium.html

ROME (AP) -- Italian lawmakers questioned Premier Silvio Berlusconi's top aide and an intelligence chief Thursday about allegations that Italy knowingly gave the United States and Britain forged documents suggesting Saddam Hussein was seeking uranium in Africa.

Cabinet Undersecretary Gianni Letta and Nicolo Pollari, the director of Italy's SISMI intelligence agency, were questioned by members of a parliamentary commission overseeing secret services.

The hearing in Rome was not open to the public, but commission members were expected to talk to reporters later.

Pollari requested the hearing after the daily newspaper La Repubblica said last week that Italy gave the United States and Britain documents it knew were forged detailing a purported Iraqi deal to buy 500 tons of uranium concentrate from Niger. The uranium ore, known as yellowcake, can be used to produce nuclear weapons.

[Dhalgren]

1. Well, hell, everyone in Britain and the US knew the papers were

forged, too. The Italians are in this up to their eyeballs, but the investigation aught to be taking place in Washington, DC, where the real culprits live... Just sayin'...

[NashVegas]

2. Josh Marshall Reporting

Stephen Hadley was asked about the first meeting. He gave an answer to a question he wasn't asked.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/006914.php

[rodeodance]

3. Italy MPs probe Niger-Iraq claim

Last Updated: Thursday, 3 November 2005, 12:43 GMT
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4402594.stm

Italy MPs probe Niger-Iraq claim

The director of the Italian military intelligence agency (Sismi) is due to give evidence over allegations that Iraq sought to buy uranium from Niger.

Nicolo Pollari is testifying before a parliamentary committee over reports that Italy wilfully gave the US and UK evidence that turned out to be false......


The Italian hearing into the claims is being held behind closed doors, but some details were expected to emerge later.

Italian newspaper La Repubblica says Italian agents gave the false dossier to British and American intelligence services........