Monday, October 31 2005 16:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Moscow: Russia could demand the Volcker Commission that probed alleged kickbacks received by foreign entities and individuals in implementing UN Oil-for-Food programme for Iraq to disclose its sources, as many of the documents it had produced regarding alleged Russian involvement were dubious or falsified.

Russia could demand that the Commission disclose the sources of fake documents it had received, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, adding Moscow was thoroughly studying its report.

"In a number of instances, the Commission presented Russia with rather dubious or clearly falsified documents concerning Russia's participation in the Oil-for-Food programme," sources quoted Lavrov as saying.

"If more fakes are discovered now or in foreseeable future, we will urge the Commission to explain how it came into possession of these so-called documents," Lavrov said.

The Commission, led by former US Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, said more than 2,000 firms linked to the UN Oil-for-Food programme from 1996 through 2003 were involved in making illicit payments, including briberies and kickbacks, to the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein in exchange for oil export quotas.

Lavrov's comments came as Russian Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov accused US intelligence services of concocting the report, saying, "it is the handiwork of their special services (spy agencies) to destroy the foreign political rivals challenging the US policies".