ONA withheld Iraq info from PM

A peak Australian intelligence agency has revealed it knew about 
doubts over claims Iraq was sourcing uranium from Africa a month 
before the Prime Minister made the statement to Federal Parliament.  

But the Office of National Assessments says it did not pass the 
information on to the Government.  

In a statement, ONA says it became aware in January the US State 
Department doubted claims Saddam Hussein had sought uranium from 
Africa.  

Prime Minister John Howard made the link between Iraq and the African 
state of Niger in Federal Parliament in February.  

ONA says it had not informed the Government of the State 
Department's concern.  

It says it was not until March that the International Atomic Energy 
Agency found the documents citing the link were false.  

ONA says United Kingdom intelligence services are standing by their 
assessments that Iraq did seek to aquire uranium from Africa.  

                            -==-

Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s898993.htm

Cheers, Steve..

---