(Guardian-UK) Rob Evans and David Leigh - British government financial guarantees against the collapse of the Saudi ruling family have been secretly given to the giant arms firm BAE Systems, currently negotiating weapons contracts reportedly worth up to $4.5bn with a regime that is regularly accused of corruption on a massive scale. BAE has refused to detail the secret commissions it is paying, believed to benefit figures connected with the Saudi royal family. The Serious Fraud Office is currently studying allegations that BAE has for years been running a £20m slush fund designed to bribe influential Saudis with prostitutes, yachts, cars, and houses. According to Middle East defense sources, BAE has been negotiating to upgrade the fleet of Tornado warplanes it sold to the Saudi regime with modernized avionics and "smart" weapons systems.
2003-12-03 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive