http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/06/10/wirq210.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/06/10/ixworld.htmlAllawi accused over 1990s bombingsBy Alec Russell
Last Updated: 11:13pm BST 09/06/2004
Iraq's prime minister-designate sent agents to attack Saddam Hussein's regime under CIA direction, it was reported yesterday.
Ayad Allawi's Iraqi National Accord smuggled car bombs and other explosives into the Iraqi capital from its base in exile in northern Iraq, former American intelligence officials told The New York Times.
It is not clear how effective the campaign was and there are conflicting reports over whether the bombs caused any civilian casualties.
There are also suggestions that the allegations stem from the ferocious bureaucratic war raging in Washington between the sponsors of various Iraqi factions.
Some officials told The New York Times they found it ironic that last week Dr Allawi said his first priority was to stop bombings, given the record of his group.Dr Allawi's appointment as the prime minister-designate two weeks ago was strongly backed by the CIA, which backed his group in the 1990s. He also has ties to MI6.