The 15-member of the United Nations Security Council on Friday adopted a new comprehensive policy on Iraq with 11 votes for and four abstentions.

China, Russia and France, three of the five permanent members of the Council and Malaysia, one of the ten non-permanent members, abstained.

Following are the main points of the resolution:

-- A new arms regime called "the U.N. Monitoring, verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) would be created to replace the United Nations Special Commission which has not returned to Iraq since the U.S.-led military strikes against the country last December.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has to appoint an executive chairman of the UNMOVIC, subject to Council approval within 30 days of adoption of the resolution.

UNMOVIC will be in charge of Iraq's chemical, biological and ballistic-missile programs and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will be in charge of Iraq's nuclear program.

The executive Chairman of UNMOVIC is requested within 45 days of his appointment to submit, in consultation with and through the Secretary-General, for its approval an organizational plan for

UNMOVIC, including its structure, staffing requirements, management guidelines, recruitment and training procedures.

UNMOVIC and IAEA submit their schedules within 60 days after they begin operations, including both the implementation of the reinforced system of ongoing monitoring and verification and the

key remaining disarmament tasks to be completed by Iraq under relevant U.N. resolutions.

-- Immediately after the resolution is adopted, the ceiling is lifted on how much oil Iraq can sell. The Council promises to consider additional Iraqi oil export routes in addition to those

now used.

Parts and equipment to upgrade Iraq's oil industry will also be expedited through pre-approved lists by a group of experts. A panel first must survey Iraq's oil industry and recommend

improvements.

-- The resolution would immediately streamline procedures for importing foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, agricultural equipment and educational items into Iraq. A list of approved goods would be drawn up without referring each item for approval to the Security Council's sanctions committee, as present.

Annan is to recommend how some of the oil revenues can be used for purchases of goods produced in Iraq.

-- Sanctions could be suspended after UNMOVIC and IAEA report that Iraq has cooperated in all aspects with them in particular in fulfilling the remaining disarmament tasks.

Any suspension would have to be renewed every 120 days. If arms officials say Iraq is not cooperating, the suspension of the sanctions expires on the fifth day after the negative reports

unless the Council decides otherwise.

Due to ambiguity in the key passage of the resolution, It is widely seen here that the resolution will start a complicated new process on weapons inspections and humanitarian programs, with each step expected to be the subject of intensive debate among the Council members. (Xinhua)