Written question asked by Win Griffiths (Labour) on Friday, 14 March 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 24 March 2003. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Monday, 24 March 2003 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the steps taken to authenticate the documentation passed to the UN weapons inspectors referred to by Dr M El Baradei at the UN Security Council on 7th March, claiming that Iraq had attempted to buy uranium from Niger and elsewhere.

Answer: Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the steps taken to authenticate the documentation passed to the UN weapons inspectors referred to by Dr. M. El Baradei at the UN Security Council on 7 March 2003, claiming that Iraq had attempted to buy uranium from Niger and elsewhere. [103807] Mr. Mike O'Brien: We understand that the IAEA acquired documents--some of which were forgeries. I am told these were not from UK sources. We can remain confident the statement in the Government's Dossier on Iraqi WMD that Iraq sought the supply of significant uranium from Africa.

Secondary information