Gold worth $500m found in Iraq

At a roadblock in Iraq, American troops confiscated what they believe may be gold bars worth up to US$500 million, defense officials said on Friday. A truck carrying 2,000 18kg 10-inch bars was stopped by US soldiers near Qaim.

‘‘The occupants told the soldiers that they had been paid a total of 350,000 dinars to drive the truck from Baghdad to an unnamed individual in Al Qaim,’’ US Central Command said.