When last we left M. Pasqua he was busy denying allegations and evidence of his wrongdoing in the UN's FFO program. We had thought our little write-up would have gotten M. Pasqua's message out. Apparently the United States Senate is not a regular reader of Pave:

US SENATE 'TO CITE PASQUA IN OIL-FOR-FOOD SCAM'
WASHINGTON, May 8 (AFP)

But the indefatigable M. Pasqua is not at a loss for fresh denials:

EX-FRENCH MINISTER DENIES SADDAM OIL BRIBES
PARIS, May 12 (AFP)

"In January 2004, and then again in October 2004, I denied having received any advantages whatsoever, in any form, from the Iraqi authorities or the regime of Saddam Hussein," Pasqua said in a statement.

A US Senate committee said Thursday it had "detailed evidence" that Pasqua and controversial British MP George Galloway received "lucrative oil allocations" in kickbacks from Baghdad.

Earlier reports pointing the finger at Pasqua's alleged illicit involvement in the oil-for-food programme emerged in January 2004 in the Iraqi newspaper Al-Mada, and again in October 2004 in a CIA report.

"The report published today by the US Senate Permanent Sub-committee on Investigations is largely based on these earlier reports. Once again, I deny the allegations," Pasqua said.

Three's a charm!

"This report also touches on points raised in articles published on April 28, 2005 in the Financial Times and an Italian daily, Il Sole 24 Ore. I will sue them for libel," the former interior minister added.

The US Senate panel said it had found evidence that Pasqua received some 11 million barrels of oil in allocations from Iraq and that Galloway had received 20 million barrels.

The French Foreign Ministry remains hunkered down in M. Pasqua's corner:

Q - Do you have any response to the naming of Charles Pasqua (and George Galloway) in connection with the Oil for Food scandal? Last time, if memory serves, France was surprised that the Americans were spared by the allegations. [Incroyable !]

As we’ve already noted, France wants all possible light to be shed on any irregularities committed in the context of the Oil for Food program.

As for new allegations relating to French individuals or entities, France is not in a position to comment on these allegations, which were formulated without giving a chance to those individuals or entities to defend themselves.

We have already noted that we disapprove of this manner of proceeding.