(July 9, 2004) In a bid to establish a bond market and kickstart Iraq’s local capital markets, Iraq’s Finance Ministry intends to auction 150 billion dinars ($103 million) of treasury bills on July 18.

(July 9, 2004)The Iraqi government expressed confidence on Wednesday that global lenders would write off its huge $120-billion foreign debt, helping to rebuild Iraq’s war-ravaged economy and revive the vital oil sector.

(July 9, 2004) Judging by diplomatic statements the whole world is now eager to help Iraq.

(July 8, 2004) Iraq’s Finance Ministry will auction IQD150 billion ($103 million) of treasury bills (T-bill) on July 18, 2004, Reuters reported. The T-bill issue would be used to repay outstanding debt issued by Saddam Hussein’s regime.

(July 8, 2004) The Iraqi government expressed confidence that global lenders would write off its huge $120 billion foreign debt, helping to rebuild Iraq’s economy and revive the vital oil sector.

(July 8, 2004) The Federal Minister for Trade Mark Vaile has told farmers there is no other option but to forgive Iraq’s wheat debt to Australia.

(July 2, 2004) It is hard to argue against debt relief for struggling economies but experts say US efforts to forgive most of Iraq’s $120 billion would be a slap in the face for nations still paying old dictators’ bills.

(July 7, 2004) Iraq’s massive debt could badly hinder efforts to rebuild the nation’s economy, its finance minister warned Wednesday.

(June 3, 2004) Australia will forgive the majority of a $500 million debt owed by Iraq for wheat purchases as it looks to rebuild one of its most important markets for grain, Trade Minister Mark Vaile said yesterday.

(June 3, 2004) The leaders of the Group of Eight industrial nations next week are expected to welcome OPEC’s decision to raise oil output and will discuss reducing Iraq’s debt burden, a European diplomatic source told Reuters. The diplomatic source, who asked not to be identified, said: "On the economic front, the heads of state and government will concentrate overall on Iraq’s debt. The percentage to cancel and restructure will be in a range of 60 to 90 percent."

(June 3, 2004) A detailed analysis of Saddam Hussein’s secret money-laundering techniques shows here for the first time how he used the same offshore money launderers as Osama bin Laden.

(June 2, 2004) A new Hollywood disaster film fantasises the convulsive effects of global climate change. But it’s the real world of Haiti and the Dominican Republic that blows Caspar Henderson away.