United Nations: The United Nations Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to the highest ethical standards after the former head of the UN oil-for-food program for Iraq was indicted for bribery related to the corruption-plagued scheme.

According to Tuesday s indictment, Sevan, a 69-year-old Cypriot, received 160,000 dollars from the Baghdad government through Ephraim Nadler, a brother-inlaw of former UN secretary general Boutros Boutros-Ghali.

Sevan faces up to 50 years in prison if convicted of the charges by US authorities, while Nadler faces a sentence of up to 112 years.

US authorities on Tuesday issued arrest warrants against the two men and requested their extradition.

Farhan Haq, a UN spokesman, said Ban, who is currently in Washington for talks with US President George W. Bush, would like to convey that the United Nations has been cooperating with authorities about the follow-up to the Volcker report and will continue to do so.

The spokesman added that Ban reiterates the UN s commitment to uphold the highest ethical standards.

Haq said the UN was aware of media reports about the indictments but had yet to receive information about the case.

An independent panel, led by former US Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker, probing the oil-for-food program had determined in 2005 that Sevan had received large payments of cash, as well as allocations of Iraqi oil.

Sevan resigned from the United Nations in August 2005 and criticized former UN chief Kofi Annan at the time for 'sacrificing' him as he faced an inquiry into his role in the scandal-plagued aid scheme.

The oil-for-food program ran from 1996 to 2003,when US-led forces invaded Iraq to oust then-president Saddam Hussein. It allowed Baghdad to sell oil in exchange for humanitarian goods the country lacked due to sanctions, but the Iraqi government swindled millions of dollars from the program.