A probe by United States Congress has slammed the United Nations for mismanagement of the oil-for-food programme, but said the full historical impact of the scam would be understood only after probes in India and other countries into the Volcker report is completed.
"The historical impact of the UN oil-for-food scandal will not be entirely understood until conclusions have been drawn by the numerous investigations now underway in countries whose citizens or officials are implicated in the scandal including India, France, the United States and others," said a report by the Oversight and Investigations Sub Committee of the House International Relations Committee.
It also flayed lapses in Volcker Report and said the committee that had probed the scam should make its papers public with its archives perhaps even posted on the Internet, while taking appropriate steps to protect security-sensitive information.
"The committee recommends that the IIC place all of its work papers, documents and records in public custody rather than turn them back to the UN. This work was paid for the Iraqi people with their oil revenues, not the UN," the report said.
It has also called for an independent body to investigate corruption at the United Nations
Procurement Division in the investigative report, which was passed on Wednesday by a voice vote.
The principal thrust of the investigative report was to look at the flaws in the oil-for-food programme and in the manner the Volcker Committee went about its task.
The Independent Investigative Committee led by Paul Volcker had in its report on the oil-for-food scam implicated former external affairs minister Natwar Singh and Congress party.
Of an estimated US$ 65 billion in oil sales between 1996 and 2003, as much as US$ 10 billion was reportedly siphoned off by Saddam Hussein 'in the form of illicit revenue from oil smuggling and contract kickbacks', the House Sub Committee report said.
"If this is a report card as well as a report, we give the UN a failing grade on integrity, oversight and competence," said Sub Committee Chair Dana Rohrabacher.
The California Congressman is a harsh critic of the workings of the United Nations.
Several Republican members have demanded far-reaching changes at the world body and are threatening to hold up US contributions.