Never let it be said that Kofi Annan is not a world-class ass-covering bureaucrat: UN’s Annan calls for fraud probe into Iraq oil scheme.

“These allegations, whether or not they are ultimately shown to be well-founded, must be taken seriously and addressed forthrightly, in order to bring to light the truth and prevent an erosion of the trust and hope that the international community has invested in the organisation,” Annan wrote.

“I propose to establish an independent, high-level enquiry to investigate the allegations relating to the administration and management of the programme, including allegations of fraud and corruption.”

Annan said earlier Friday that it was “highly possible” that there was widespread wrong-doing in the UN-run programme, which kept six out of 10 Iraqis alive in the last years of Saddam’s regime.

Not just “possible.” “Highly possible.”