Written question asked by Llew Smith (Labour) on Thursday, 12 December 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 17 December 2002. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Tuesday, 17 December 2002 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on links between the Al-Qaeda terrorist group and representatives of the Iraqi regime. - Inc ref to 396 c143-4, 10 December 2002.

Answer: Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on links between the Al-Qaeda terrorist group and representatives of the Iraqi regime. [87587] Mr. Mike O'Brien: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, North (Mr. Chaytor) on 10 December, 2002, Official Report, column 143. We believe that there are Al-Qaeda operatives in Iraq. We do not know their links to the Iraqi regime. Obviously in the circumstances it is difficult to establish this issue with clarity.

Secondary information