THE TELEGRAPH: Defence giant BAE Systems is to set up an independent committee to probe its ethics in an attempt to head off a possible investigation by the United States' Congress into allegations it paid bribes to win contracts.
Senior Washington sources said the risk of a political backlash against Britain's biggest defence company in the US was growing.
They said it was likely BAE would have to attend Congressional hearings to answer questions about whether it made illegal payments to win a £40 billion deal, known as Al-Yamamah, with Saudi Arabia in the 1980s.
One source said: "America's defence industry will use this to move on BAE. BAE faces US inquiry into bribery allegations (more) By Katherine Griffiths
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Why BAE wants to attack Saudi bribe claim By Russell Hotten
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Timeline: BAE corruption probe
Mark Alexander
