Iraq reconstruction effort 'hampered by lack of funds'

A draft of an official report into the American effort to rebuild Iraq after the war reveals it was hampered by serious understaffing, bureaucratic infighting and ever-rising security costs, it was reported today.

The New York Times said the early version of the account of the $25bn reconstruction programme, put together by the office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, also showed problems stemming from a lack of technical expertise.