Claim that aid was spent on weapons is 'nonsense' says Geldof

CLAIMS that aid money sent to Ethiopia was spent on weapons are "palpable nonsense", Band Aid founder Sir Bob Geldof insists.

The Band Aid Trust has said it will complain to the broadcasting watchdog Ofcom and the BBC Trust about a BBC report which alleged that millions of pounds raised for famine relief was spent on weapons by a rebel group.

Interviewed on BBC TV yesterday, Geldof said: "There is not a shred of evidence that Band Aid or Live Aid money was diverted."

A broadcast on the BBC World Service reported that 95 per cent of the $100 million (66m) in aid which went to the province of Tigray in 1985 was used by rebel forces to buy weapons.

The BBC report featured interviews with two former members of a rebel group in the northern Ethiopian province who made the allegations.

A Christian Aid spokeswoman said they were planning to support the complaint to the BBC Trust. Paul Brannen, head of advocacy at the charity, added: "This story is a good example of how a lie can be half-way round the world before truth has put its boots on.

"In this age of rapid and international communication it is more important than ever that the BBC independently verify all its facts before transmitting a story as potentially damaging as this one."

Andrew Whitehead, the news and current affairs editor at the World Service, said the BBC "stands by" its report.

Writing in the Editors blog on the BBC website, Mr Whitehead stated of the report: "It presents evidence, compelling evidence, that some of the famine relief donations were diverted by a powerful rebel group to buy weapons."

Mr Whitehead admitted the two former rebels quoted in the story are "at odds" with their old leader as to who is now prime minister of Ethiopia, but added: "They are credible voices."

He also defended the journalist, World Service Africa editor Martin Plaut, who made the documentary.