Date:26/11/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/11/26/stories/2004112603321400.htm

International

`Withhold Halliburton payments'

By Erik EkholmNew York Times News Service

NEW YORK, NOV. 25. Adding a new voice to a politically delicate debate, the Pentagon's special auditor for Iraq reconstruction has recommended that the military hold back a share of reimbursements to the Halliburton Co. until questions are resolved about its spending in Iraq.

The auditor, Stuart Bowen, sent his opinion to Army officials on Tuesday on an issue that has roiled the Pentagon: how to handle post-invasion invoices from Halliburton that were not accompanied by customary receipts or evidence that it paid reasonable prices.

At issue is nearly $2 billion in bills submitted by the Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg Brown & Root that, officials say, lacked proper records.