[originaltext] U. N. Secretary General Kofi Annan has lashed out at critics of

U. N. Secretary General Kofi Annan has lashed out at critics of the world body’s role in the Iraq oil-for- food program, describing some of the charges as outrageous and exaggerated. Mr. Annan categorically rejected allegations that his son may have been involved in any illegal activities.
  Asked Wednesday about the effect of the oil-for-food scandal on the world body’s reputation, the secretary general rose immediately to the defense of his son. Kojo Annan worked in the mid-90s for Cotecna, a Swiss-based  company chosen to monitor what Iraq was importing under the humanitarian program.
  Speaking at a news conference, Mr. Annan said there is nothing to the accusations that his son somehow benefited illegally from oil-for-food contracts. "He joined the company even before I became secretary general, as a 22-year old, as a trainee in Geneva and then he was assigned to work for them in West Africa, mainly in Nigeria and Ghana," he said. "Neither he nor I had anything to do with co0tracts for Cotecna. That was done in strict accordance with U. N. rules and financial regulations."