Galloway: Senate hearing

George Galloway has tackled head on those who claim he secretly received oil vouchers from Saddam Hussein's regime.

The Respect MP, who is in the US to defend himself in front of a Senate committee, turned the tables on his accusers in a forensic and bombastic performance.

In an opening salvo he said: "You have nothing on me, senator, except my name on lists of names from Iraq, many of which have been drawn up after the installation of your puppet government in Iraq."

The MP was quizzed on his relationship with Fawaz Zureikat, who was the chairman of the Mariam Appeal, and who is also alleged to have received money from the oil for food programme.

Galloway said the committee had "already found me guilty" before he had been given the opportunity to "clear myself".

Speaking to the committee the MP insisted he had met Saddam Hussein only twice - the same number of times as US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

"If you had any evidence that anybody ever gave me money it would be before the public today. What counts is where's the money," he said.

"If you had anybody who had ever paid me the money you would have produced them today."

He also demanded to know the identity of a "senior former regime official" who claims Galloway was in receipt of oil money.

Galloway claimed the committee had made a "schoolboy howler" in claiming wrong-doing on his part.

The MP said the "existence of forged documents implicating me with the Iraqi regime is a proven fact".

"I gave my heart and soul to stop you committing the disaster that you committed in Iraq," he added.

Neo-cons

Speaking ahead of his meeting Galloway described the senators as "the most intense collection of pro-Israel, pro-war, neo-cons you could possibly gather in one room".

"I am determined, now that I am here, to be not the accused but the accuser," he said.

"The people who have been guilty of massive profiteering in Iraq is the US themselves, and I intend to put them on trial."

Galloway insisted he was under no obligation to explain himself in front of the US Senate.

But he warned that he would repeat his claim of innocence when he appears before the Senate hearing later today.

"I don't have to answer to them, they don't rule the world.

He also claimed that documents allegedly showing him to be in receipt of oil vouchers through the oil for food programme were false.

"They will have to show me the money. Anyone can put anyone's name on documents," he added.