Corruption Probe Puts Saudi-UK Fighter Deal at Risk

Charging that thousands of jobs are at risk, British lawmakers want the government to wrap up investigations into allegations that a defense firm paid millions of dollars in bribes to the Saudi royal family.

Since 2002, police have been looking into charges that British-based BAE Systems used a $120-million slush fund to win a massive 1985 contract, which has earned the company billions of dollars since then for training and equipping Saudi Arabia's air force.

However, reports surfacing here in recent weeks indicate that the Saudi government has become increasingly angry and embarrassed over the investigation.

Saudi diplomats allegedly have warned that unless the British government shuts down the probe, Riyadh will pull out of a proposed deal to buy 72 Eurofighter Typhoon planes, a deal estimated to be worth around $20 billion.

Read more