http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-12/06/content_3881165.htmItalian govt denies involvement in "Nigergate"
ROME, Dec. 6 (Xinhuanet) -- The Italian government on Monday denied any involvement in a dossier purporting to show an attempt by Iraq to buy uranium in Africa and which was used to help support the case for toppling Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein.
A statement from the Italian premier's office said "Italian institutions" were not involved "either directly or indirectly" in the forging or distribution of the dossier.
It also accused the Italian daily La Repubblica of "repeatedly attempting at all costs to support the hypothesis of the government 's presumed involvement."
La Repubblica has published a series of investigative articles alleging that Italy's military intelligence service Sismi handed the forged documents to the United States possibly under pressure from the Italian government.