The OECD said on Thursday its Working Group on Bribery had serious concerns about Britain's decision not to launch a corruption probe into a multi-billion-pound defense deal with Saudi Arabia.
While British Premier Tony Blair has strongly defended the decision, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development had a different view. "The Working Group has serious concerns as to whether the decision was consistent with the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention and will discuss further the issue in March 2007," it said in a statement. "The Working Group will then consider appropriate action."
Britain has called off the probe into deals involving Saudi officials and people working for BAE Systems last month, after nearly two years. At the time, a Saudi source told Reuters there had been threats from prominent Saudi figures to downgrade security cooperation with Britain if the investigation went ahead.
The OECD plans to address Britain's compliance with the Convention during the March discussions.
