Saturday, October 29 2005 16:07 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Congress today (Oct 29, 2005) dismissed as 'false and baseless' allegations made in a UN-ordered inquiry report that it was a non-contractual beneficiary of Iraqi oil sales in 2001 under the UN Oil-for-Food programme.

"I categorically state that the reports are false and baseless. We consider it an attempt to sully the fair name of the Indian National Congress," party general secretary Ambika Soni said here.

Asserting that the party was in no way connected with the issue, she recalled that the Congress was not in power at the Centre 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.

The fifth and final report of the Independent Inquiry Committee appointed by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in April, 2004, known as Volcker Commiteee, to investigate the administration and management of the programme had listed External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh as well as Congress party as non-contractual beneficiaries.

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