Page "Iraq disarmament timeline 1990–2003" Paragraph 405

* Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, concludes that the documents the US and Britain offered as " proof " that Iraq had attempted to import uranium from Niger were in fact fraudulent.

This " proof " was a key part of the US accusation that Iraq was restarting its nuclear weapons program.

ElBaradei says, " Based on thorough analysis, the IAEA has concluded ... that these documents, which formed the basis for the reports of recent uranium transactions between Iraq and Niger, are in fact not authentic.

" He concludes, " We have therefore concluded that these specific allegations are unfounded.