 A UN official has been fired by Secretary-General Kofi Annan for misconduct in the Iraq oil-for-food program. Joseph Stephanides is the first U.N. official to be fired following an investigation into charges of wrongdoing in the program. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters on Wednesday that Annan was dismissing Stephanides for interfering in the competitive bidding process for an Oil-for-Food contract. He said another official charged with misconduct in the program, Benon Sevan, wouldn't be punished until further investigations are conducted. The two officials are both Cypriot and both claim they are innocent. |