Friday, November 11 2005 17:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: The job of Indian investigators to secure documents on the basis of which Volcker Committee had named Union Minister K Natwar Singh and the Congress party as beneficiaries in Iraqi payoffs may prove to be difficult, notwithstanding offers of cooperation.

In a highly-cautious comment, a United Nations spokesperson said discussions are going on between the Committee and the world body on the issue but declined to elaborate.

Asked whether the documents not handed over would go back to the parties from whom they were obtained, she said, "the discussions are currently on between our legal department and the Volcker Committee on the documentation. So, I really can't go further on that one."

Officials and diplomats said the current thinking is that the Volcker Committee may not hand over all the documents. Much would depend on the understanding with the parties which shared them with the Committee, they said.

The Committee has promised to share information with the national investigating agencies who launch inquiries against persons and entities based on its findings. But it has also made it clear that some of the documents obtained on the understanding that they would not be shared would require waiver from the concerned parties.

The Committee is expected to finish its work by the end of the month.