UAE FIRM SERVED AS SADDAM FRONT

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The United States has termed a United Arab Emiratescompany a front for the former Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein. The U.S. Treasury Department said Al Wasel and Babel General Trading LLCwas a front for the Saddam regime and had sought to procure anti-aircraftmissiles prior to the U.S.-led war in March 2003. The department said theUAE company, based in Dubai, was controlled by senior officials of theSaddam regime, including the finance minister.