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Iraq central bank appears unlooted

Contrary to many early reports it seems the central bank of Iraq's main vaults have escaped looting and still contain U-S dollars, Iraqi dinars, gold and items from the museum put there for safekeeping.

Source: Associated Press

Except for the apparent withdrawal by Saddam and son, the business end of Iraq's central bank -- its main vaults -- appear mostly intact.

Civilian U-S officials say they have located the bank's main vaults, obtained some keys and combinations and sent Iraqi investigators inside.

The vaults apparently escaped the looting that swept Baghdad after Saddam's regime fell.

U-S Treasury Department officials say the safes contain U-S dollars, Iraqi dinars, gold and items from the museum put there for safekeeping. They say the safes had flooded.

A Treasury Department team is due in Iraq this month to look for hidden government accounts.

Earlier this week, the State Department said about one (b) billion dollars was taken from the bank by Saddam Hussein and his family, shortly before the U-S bombing got under way.

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