UN reverses oil-for-food sacking

BBC

The only United Nations official sacked over the Iraq oil-for-food scandal has been reinstated after a UN appeals panel ruled he had done nothing wrong.
Joseph Stephanides was fired in May for allegedly interfering in the competitive bidding process.

Investigators said he had divulged bidding information but did not suggest he had personally benefited.

While accepting his punishment was too harsh, the UN still insists he violated staff rules, and he plans a new appeal.

The BBC's Susannah Price says the decision to reverse the dismissal of Mr Stephanides will obviously be embarrassing for the UN.

According to the letter issued to Mr Stephanides on behalf of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan:

"The sanction that was imposed on you has been reconsidered in light of all the circumstances in the case and the principle of proportionality...

"It has been decided to rescind the decision to summarily dismiss you and to pay you your salary from the date of your summary dismissal to the date of your retirement [due at the end of September]."

But the letter went on to say the UN still considered that Mr Stephanides had violated procurement rules and a note of written censure would be placed in his file..........