London - The British Foreign Secretary, Mr Robin Cook, yesterday announced the appointment of a former civil servant to head the independent inquiry into the arms to Sierra Leone affair, Rachel Donnelly reports. Customs and Excise said that the consultants at the centre of the row would not face prosecution over an alleged breach of the UN arms embargo.
Rejecting calls for a public inquiry, Mr Cook told the Commons that Sir Thomas Legg QC would begin his investigation into alleged sanctions busting by Sandline International and the role of the Foreign Office immediately.