Corruption charges

Iraq: US agencies working in Iraq will face additional scrutiny this year as more projects are handed over to the new Iraqi Government, according to the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction, Stuart Bowen.

Mr Bowen made the statement after his investigations into contracting corruption in Iraq resulted in one guilty plea and three further arrests. Robert Stein, a US Department of Defense contract employee, pleaded guilty to a number of corruption charges and the other people arrested are believed to have conspired with Mr Stein.

According to Mr Stein's plea documents, he and five others received over US$ 1 million in bribes and stole over US$ 2 million allocated for reconstruction projects.