Natwar accepts writing letters to Iraqi premier

New Delhi, Aug 4 (UNI) Defending himself and claiming his stand of innocence in the UN's oil-for-food Programme of Iraq was vindicated by the report of the R S Pathak Authority, former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh today said he was not feeling guilty of having written three letters to the then Iraqi Government in the matter.

''What's wrong with writing the letters. I write many letters. As a politician, it is my duty to promote trade...,'' he said in an interview to CNN-IBN tonight.

''No specific favours were sought in the letters and this has been proved by the Pathak Authority,'' he said.

The embattled senior Congressman said he was not scared if the letters were made public. 'Why don't they put these letters before the public,'' he asked while admitting that though the letters carried his signatures, the language was someone else's.

He, however, added that the letters were not forged.

Mr Singh said that he would continue to remain in the Congress. He also refused to respond to questions about the Congress and its party chief Sonia Gandhi, saying his association with the Gandhi family went back to six decades.

Asked if he felt embarrassed after his name figured in the Volcker Report, he said ''yes, but I have a strong heart''. After the Pathak Authority submitted its report to the PM, it was clear that he and his son were innocent of the charges, Mr Singh said.

On how the Pathak report may have leaked to the media, he said, without taking names, that the Prime Minister had sent a copy of the report received by him to the Finance Minister.

UNI KAS SHB RN2127