Further memorandum from the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office
1. During the oral evidence session on Iraq
on 29 April I undertook to revert to you with further comments
on two points: the existence of documents alleging clear links
between Al Qaeda and Iraq, and the protection of Iraqi artefacts.
IRAQ/AL
QAEDA LINKS
2. Coalition troops have secured a large
number of official Iraqi documents. These may or may not include
references to links between the Iraqi regime and Al Qaeda. We
are working on analysis of these documents. We are also actively
seeking to establish whether the claims made by some newspapers
of documents showing Al Qaeda/Iraq links, are genuine. We would
welcome sight of any documents discovered by journalists or private
individuals, so that experts can analyse those.
3. It will take some time to analyse all
these documents and to make judgements including on whether there
is any evidence of links between Iraq and Al Qaeda. But even then
I cannot guarantee to we would be able to publicise the results
of that analysis. If it transpires that we can share any new insights
with the FAC, then I will do so.
INVENTORIES AND
LISTS OF
IRAQI ARTEFACTS
4. Officials from the Department of Culture,
Media and Sport met with those of the British Museum on 27 April,
to discuss the situation on Iraqi artefacts. They have advised
me that the Baghdad Museum only began the compilation of an inventory
of exhibits five years ago and it was incomplete. There is no
evidence so far that the inventory survived the post-conflict
looting. Nor is there evidence that a list was maintained of any
artefacts that Saddam may have removed. Baghdad falls within the
military responsibility of the United States, who have placed
a guard on the Museum. The Americans share our concern for the
restoration of looted exhibits and for the security of the Museum
complex.
5. The Head of the British Office in Baghdad
has returned to the Chancery building. Christopher Segar reports
that the records of the British Archaeological Society have survived
intact. They were deposited for safekeeping in 1990.
Secretary of State
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
23 May 2003
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