Toppled Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein rejected a request for more money from British Member of Parliament George Galloway, who allegedly was paid more that half a million dollars by the regime, saying his 'exceptional' demands were not affordable.

The toppled Iraqi leader's response was outlined in a memo circulated by his senior aide to four senior figures of Saddam's regime, the Daily Telegraph reported.

In his response dated May 2, 2000, Saddam said that Galloway was 'promoting the right path, even using western methods' who 'needs exceptional support' but which the Iraqi
regime 'cannot afford'.

The newspaper had yesterday revealed that it had also found another memo at the Iraqi foreign ministry that Galloway allegedly took $587,500 a year from the regime.

Saddam was rejecting two specific requests allegedly made by the Labour party MP.

The memo says Galloway was already receiving between 10 and 15 cents per barrel of three million barrels exported every month.

The MP's second reported request was for 'exceptional commercial and contractual' opportunities with three ministries and the state electricity commission.

Galloway has denied receiving any money from the regime. He claims that any documents purporting to show this are forgeries planted by western intelligence agencies to try to
discredit him.

Galloway was a vocal opponent of the US-led war on Iraq and was nicknamed 'the MP for Baghdad central' for his personal relationship with the toppled Iraqi leader.