UN lets Iraq sell more oil

The United Nations Security Council last night agreed unanimously to let Iraq sell $2.14bn worth of oil for six more months to buy food and medicine, after the US and Britain delayed changes sought by Iraq.

In a British-drafted resolution, the council also expressed its intention to "consider favourably" any recommendation by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to increase the amount of oil Iraq can sell.

Annan is expected to recommend such an increase next month for the programme, which was established to alleviate the suffering of the Iraqi people after more than seven years of crippling sanctions.

-AP