downer considered resigning

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer is believed to have seriously considered resigning his cabinet post as well as from Parliament when he was informed that the PM's office had leaked the report of his knowledge of the Iraq AWAB scandal following his denials in Parliament.

Downer was considered a serious challenger to the PM's position and is believed to have negotiated with Costello who himself believes that he was the subject of destructive leaks from the PM's office.

The AWB scandal has only just begun. it is further believed that money was paid to insurgennt groups in order not to target Australian forces there. Aussies in return agreed not to take up a hostile role and to only act in self defence.

Singapore is believed to have done a similar deal with SIA and the PLO in the 1970's after the Entebbe raid in which they were sued by survivors. It angered israel no end who till this day do not fly to Singapore.

Therre is more to come on the AWB deal, cannot provide details now.