(October 24, 2003) Why cancel Saddam’s debts and not those accumulated by former Congolese dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, to name just one notorious example. The US administration isn’t in favour of a blanket write-off either, but would like to see one in the case of Iraq.

(October 23, 2003) Iraq’s $100 billion plus debt was supposed to be off the agenda at a summit to raise money to rebuild the battered country, but it emerged on Thursday as one of the key issues hindering the fund raising effort.

(October 23, 2003) About $50bn is needed to rebuild Iraq, aid officials say United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has called on the international community to "give and give generously".

(October 22, 2003) Even a big debt write-off, which has been mooted, could still leave Iraq poor for many decades to come.

(October 22, 2003) As big powers gather, report indicates ‘unanimous’ Iraqi opposition to payment of Saddam’s ‘odious’ debts.

(October 21, 2003) The US will discuss Iraq debt forgiveness with several countries on the fringes of the conference. The Paris Club estimates Iraq’s existing debts at $21bn.

(October 21, 2003) Deep disagreement over Iraq’s crippling debt burden is expected to reanimate old quarrels and undermine progress at the Iraq donors conference, which meets for two days from Thursday in Madrid.

(October 19, 2003) The United States should not ask Iraq to repay a portion of the proposed $87 billion for postwar expenses, U.S. Sen. John Sununu said Friday. It would send the wrong message to the Arab world and American allies, he said.

(October 18, 2003) Independent agency will oversee reconstruction spending.

(October 17, 2003) Much of the US financial contribution to Iraqi reconstruction will be earmarked for American companies, according to the top international official at the US Treasury.

(October 16, 2003) Iraq’s debt to Bulgaria would most probably be paid off through its oil, US Congressman James Sensenbrenner said to Bulgaria’s Parliamentary Speaker Ognyan Gerdjikov.

(October 16, 2003) The resolution confirms that for the time being the Coalition Provisional Authority will remain the over-arching power in Iraq, but stresses the transfer of sovereignty and government back to the Iraqi people as soon as practicable.

(October 9, 2003) Believe it or not, there is a Web site, sponsored by a Canadian organization, called odiousdebts.org. It focuses on a question generally thought to be just over the horizon of public interest, but no longer.