John Howard 'happy' to appear at oil-for-food inquiry

abc.au: Prime Minister John Howard has been called to give evidence at the oil-for-food scandal inquiry and said in a statement he was "happy" to appear.

Mr Howard, who has already provided a confidential written statement to the inquiry, has publicly denied knowledge of kickbacks being paid to Iraq.

Mr Howard will be the first prime minister to face questioning at a judicial inquiry in more than 20 years.

"The Cole Commission of Inquiry has requested that I appear at its hearings," Mr Howard said.

"The inquiry has indicated that it would suit its convenience for me to do that at 10 am (AEST) tomorrow."

Mr Howard is expected to be cross-examined by a lawyer acting for two AWB executives.

Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile and the Foreign Affairs Minister, Alexander Downer, have already given evidence at the inquiry this week.

Alexander Downer gave testimony yesterday to the inquiry into $290 million of sanction-breaking payments made by wheat exporter AWB to the regime of Saddam Hussein.

Like Mark Vaile, who appeared before the inquiry on Monday, he said he did not remember reading a series of diplomatic cables relating to allegations against AWB. Read more