By Raed El Rafei

BEIRUT: Nine Lebanese names were linked to the United Nations oil-for-food scandal in the last report conducted by the UN Independent Inquiry Committee investigating the scandal. The names included two Lebanese politicians: former MP President Emile Lahoud's elder son Emile Lahoud Jr. and former MP Najah Wakim.

Wakim denied in a statement released on Friday allegations of being involved in the scandal, strongly criticizing the international legitimacy as based on "lies" and "aggression."

Wakim questioned the "independence" of the committee which produced the report calling it an "American agent" and accused Arab "agents" of lying about his alleged use of the oil coupons.

The report submitted by the committee and headed by chairman Paul Volcker said on Thursday that more than 2,200 firms from around the world paid $1.8 billion in bribes to the regime of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

The nine Lebanese who benefited from Iraqi oil coupons without contacts are: Fouad Hajj (1 million barrels), Faisal Dornaika (3 million barrels), Jihad Karam (4 million barrels), Emile Emile Lahoud (4 million barrels), Osama Maarouf (3 million barrels), Haitham Sidani (2 million barrels), George Tarkhanian (8 million barrels), Elias Ferzli (who should not be mistaken for the former Information Minister Elie Ferzli) (10 million barrels) and Najah Wakim (3 million barrels which were not collected).

The report further included three Lebanese companies: "Al-Hilal SAL," "Fadi Oil International" and "B.B. Energy." - (Daily Star, Naharnet)