Annan: U.S. allowed unsupervised oil-exports to Turkey

Addressing a seminar at the United Nations, Thursday, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said that the United States and Britain were to blame for the abuse of embargoes put in place as part of the oil-for-food program in Iraq. Annan said that the U.S. and Britain allowed unsupervised oil exports under the program to countries such as Turkey and Jordan. Annan accused the U.S and Britain for over-looking this trade because they are allies with Turkey and Jordan. The U.N secretary general went on to say that the reason for such corruption was "understandable", because no one had the money to compensate neighbors of Iraq for their losses under the sanctions. Annan also said that the corruption and smuggling that occurred outside the $67 billion program went on under the U.S. and British watch. A New york court charged several people with corruption under the oil-for-food program.Â