Main stories in ABC's World Today

AAP General News (Australia)
04-10-2006
Main stories in ABC's World Today

SYDNEY, April 10 AAP - Main stories in ABC's World Today:

* Prime Minister John Howard has confirmed he has been asked by Commissioner Terence
Cole to submit a written statement to the Cole inquiry into the oil-for-food scandal.

He has said he is prepared to appear in person to answer questions about what he knew
about the $290 million in kickbacks paid by Australia's wheat exporter to the Saddam Hussein's
regime. Opposition Leader Kim Beazley says the prime minister should take the stand to
answer questions at the inquiry.

* Along with the prime minister's statement, Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer
and Trade Minister Mark Vaile are to appear before the Cole inquiry to field questions
from Commissioner Terence Cole. If the government ministers continue to maintain they
knew nothing about the kickbacks, they are expected to be grilled about why they didn't
know, and why intelligence agencies didn't tell them.

* Authorities in north Queensland are taking steps to identify and punish interstate
trades people accused of profiteering over the clean-up after Cyclone Larry. This is in
response to reports that some people from as far away as Melbourne are arriving in cyclone-hit
areas and demanding two or three times the usual rate to carry out repairs and some local
landlords are increasing rental prices.

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KEYWORD: MONITOR WORLD TODAY

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