Iraq's former finance minister alleges $800m theft

Iraq’s former finance minister has alleged in a US television report that up to $800m (€633.5m) meant to equip the Iraqi army had been stolen from the government by former officials through fraudulent arms deals.

The former minister Ali Allawi told CBS’ 60 Minutes that $1.2bn (€949.8bn) had been allocated from the Iraqi treasury to the defense ministry to buy new weapons.