U.S. loses 6,600 million dollars in Iraq

Around 6,600 million (4,600 million) of U.S. funds for the reconstruction of Iraq after the invasion of 2003, there have probably been lost, stolen, reported Monday the Los Angeles Times.

The newspaper, citing as a source of information to auditors Americans who have reviewed the accounts, indicating that this amount "was part of the consignment of 12,000 million dollars (nearly 8350 million at current exchange rates) in cash that President George W. Bush authorized in 2003 and 2004. "

"Governments in the U.S. and Iraq are closing the books of that program this month, but after multiple audits and investigations, the Pentagon can not determine what happened to the 6,000 million," adds the article.

According to the newspaper, "first federal auditors indicate that part or all of that wasted money could have been stolen and that (his death) can not be explained simply by accounting errors or misallocation."

Stuart Bowen, special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction program, told the newspaper that the loss of 6,600 million dollars "could be the biggest theft of funds from the U.S. history."

For their part the Iraqi authorities argue that an agreement signed in 2004 between the governments of the U.S. and Iraq, leaving Washington the responsibility of that money. "Abdul Basit Turki Saeed, the chief auditor and president of the Iraqi Board of Supreme Audit Iraqi has warned U.S. officials that Iraq will take legal action to recover funds lost," writes Los Angeles Times.