Saturday, October 29 2005 20:13 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Congress today (Oct 29, 2005) dismissed charges that it was a non-contractual beneficiary of Iraqi oil sales in 2001 under the UN Oil-for-Food Programme and brushed aside demands that Sonia Gandhi quit as party chief and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson.

"Let them clear their skeletons. George Fernandes, Jaya Jaitley and Bangaru Laxman", party spokesman Anand Sharma told reporters when asked to comment on Janata Dal (JD) United (U) demand for resignation of Gandhi as also External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh who has also been named a beneficiary along with Congress.

Asserting that Congress has no direct or indirect connection with the matter, he said that top experts are looking into the issue for going in for a possible legal recourse.

"Congress party is in no business, and has no association with any company. For the first time, we have heard this name", he said replying to a query whether the Congress was aware of Masefield AG, the contracting company whose name figures in the U N Inquiry Report in connection with the party and Singh.

Party general secretary Ambika Soni earlier recalled that the Congress was not in power at the Center between 1996 and 2003 when the deal was executed. "We are determined to take whatever steps necessary to safeguard the name, image and reputation of the party," she said.

On the report naming Singh, Sharma said he was only authorized to speak on behalf of the party and as far as individuals were concerned, they were competent to defend themselves.