France insists Saddam has never bought uranium (say blair lied)

[Nambe]

Independent Digital (UK) Ltd

The British Government's claim that Saddam Hussein had sought to buy uranium from Niger has been dismissed by the French ambassador to the central African state.

In another blow to the credibility of the Blair Government over the issue, Denis Vène said it was impossible for uranium to leave the country without French officials knowing. ---

British government sources had claimed that French intelligence supplied London with details of Iraqi uranium purchases. But this has been vehemently denied by Paris.

M. Vène was backed by Rabiou Hassanne Yari, Niger's Minister of Mines, who told The Independent on Sunday that he was "sure and certain" that his country had never sold uranium to Iraq.

Of Mr Blair's claim that 270 tons had been purchased in the 1980s, he said: "It's not true. The Iraqis asked, but there was never any transactions."

He added that the request was not a secret. It was "officially made and officially turned down". He pointed out that Niger's uranium production was subject to scrutiny by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Britain had maintained that the "purchase" of the uranium in the 1980s made it likely that Iraq went back for more.

[Ponderer]

1. What the hell is this quote supposed to mean?

In another blow to the credibility of the Blair Government over the issue, Denis Vène said it was impossible for uranium to leave the country without French officials knowing. ---

Do the French have secret agents monitoring everything in Niger?

These statements hurts conservative Chirac's government more than it hurts liberal Blair's goverment.

[Nambe]

3. The French own and operate both urnaium interests in Nigeria.

France has a substantial stake in the two companies that mine, process and export uranium, and its movement is "perfectly controlled". The ambassador told The Sunday Telegraph: "The mining companies check and monitor the amounts that leave Niger all the way from the mines to the ports. If any were to go missing, it would be very obvious and the inspectors would pick it up straight away."

[Cha]

4. No it doesn't. IMH.

[Kellanved]

5. It backs what Niger officials said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2607081.stm

[NNN0LHI]

8. And France does have some of the better intelligence sevices on the planet

Never hear about them too much though. See what I mean?

Don

[pbeal]

9. France has the best humint sources in Africa

France has been / still is deeply involved military and commercially in most of Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa is mostly former French / Belgian colonies that France / Belgium gave up less than 30 years ago and are still dependent on African resources to fuel French industry they have the language skills, know the culture, and have the financial incentive to need to know everything that happens there. If France says something happened or didnt happen in Niger I would have to believe it.

[Cha]

2. This is Huge in my book!! How many more lies is tony blair going

throw out there to see if they stick? :kick:

tony the asp.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

6. Vive la France!

Vive la France! America's oldest and best ally.

[jamesinca]

7. Once again the story changes

They are busier than a cat in the litter box covering up their crap. What happened to 45 min from launch? What happened to we know that he has WMD and we know where they are? Let the truth start to flow with the uranium claim, then bring in the other lies once it is known by the public that the Bush administration is a lie. What happened to U.N. resolution 1441 and material breach. The crap has not been flaunted in awhile has it. Time has proven that to be wrong also!!!!

[Sweetpea]

10. I guess this means more Freedom Fries