Probe into MP's appeal fund

Mr Galloway criticised military action

The charities watchdog has begun an investigation into an appeal fund set up by MP George Galloway to pay for an Iraqi child's hospital treatment.

Mariam Hamza was flown to the UK for treatment for leukaemia following fund raising efforts by the Glasgow Kelvin MP.

In April, a member of the public complained to the Charity Commission that money donated to the appeal was used to pay for Mr Galloway's travel expenses.

The commission spent two months establishing whether the funds raised by the appeal were for charitable purposes, which would give the commission power to investigate.

The commission needs to find out whether these funds were applied for charitable purposes, as required by the terms of the original appeal.

Charity Commission

The commission has now confirmed that it wants to establish whether funds raised by the Mariam appeal were used correctly.

The watchdog said it has opened an inquiry under section 8 of the Charities Act 1993 into funds raised by The Mariam Appeal between March 1998 and April 1999.

In a statement, it said: "The appeal carried out a range of fundraising and other activities during its lifespan, and initial findings indicate that the funds raised under the terms of the original appeal were charitable.

"The commission needs to find out whether these funds were applied for charitable purposes, as required by the terms of the original appeal.

"Our fact-finding evaluation into the subsequent fundraising and application of money collected by a various people in the name of The Mariam Appeal continues."

Mr Galloway with Mariam and grandmother Umm Hamza

In April, a member of the public complained to Attorney General Lord Goldsmith that money donated to the appeal was used to pay for Mr Galloway's travel expenses.

The attorney general agreed with the commission that it should look into the matter.

Mr Galloway was informed of the commission's decision via his solicitors over the weekend.

He was unavailable for comment.

Mariam, who treated at Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Sick Children and received further treatment in the US, was the subject of controversy when she arrived in the UK.

The Labour MP and other campaigners claimed sanctions against Saddam Hussein's regime were preventing leukaemia patients in Iraq from receiving proper medicines.

Critics accused Mr Galloway of playing into the hands of the former Iraqi dictator and the child was being used as a pawn.

Labour suspension

Mr Galloway's stance on Iraq has continued to result in clashes with sections of the media.

He has launched libel proceedings against The Daily Telegraph over allegations that he accepted money from Saddam.

An American newspaper has apologised to Mr Galloway after it too alleged that he accepted millions of pounds from Saddam Hussein.

He has always strenuously denied that he took any money from the Iraqi regime and vowed to continue legal action against the Christian Science Monitor.

Mr Galloway is currently suspended from the Labour Party over an fierce attack on the prime minister and the US president over military action in Iraq.