Over 2,100 Contracts Shelved by US, Britain: IraqThe United States and Britain have put on hold 2,139 contracts Iraq signed with other countries under the United Nations oil-for-food program since 1996, a report released by Iraqi Trade Ministry said WednesdayThe oil sector bore the brunt as 679 oil contracts were among the total shelved which were worth more than 5.3 billion US dollars, the report said. The suspended contracts also included 318 for the electricity sector, 225 for the health sector, 192 for communications, 176 for the trade sector and contracts for other sectors, such as agriculture, water and sewage, education, housing and industry, according to the report. The report condemned the conduct of the US and Britain, saying that they "try to exasperate the sufferings of the Iraqi people." Iraq has repeatedly condemned the US and Britain for suspending contracts Iraq signed under the UN oil-for-food program and has often criticized the program for failing to meet Iraq's humanitarian needs. Under the program, Iraq is allowed to export oil and buy UN-monitored food, medicine and other basic needs to offset the impacts of the decade-old United Nations sanctions. Iraq has been under stringent sanctions ever since its 1990 invasion of neighboring Kuwait. |
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