BAE inquiry decision faces legal challenge

Posted on: Dec. 16th, 2006 || Source: guardian.co.uk | E-mail Article | Print Article

Tony Blair today defended the decision to drop a criminal inquiry into alleged bribery linked to a multi-billion-pound arms deal with Saudi Arabia, as two pressure groups prepared to mount a legal challenge against the move.

The attorney general, Lord Goldsmith, yesterday announced that the Serious Fraud Office had halted its probe into allegations that a slush fund was used by BAE to pay Saudi dignitaries to secure multi-billion-pound deals.

Speaking in Brussels today, Mr Blair said that he took "full responsibility" for advising Lord Goldsmith that it was not in Britain's national interests for the inquiry to continue.

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