Home   >   Features   >   Issues   >   Iraq   >   Article     

UN lifts Iraq sanctions

May 23 2003
By Evelyn Leopold

Picture: AFP
UN Security Council members from Pakistan, the US, Spain and Britain discuss the lifting of sanctions.

The UN Security Council has overwhelmingly approved an end to 13-year-old sanctions against Iraq and given the United States and Britain extraordinary powers to run the country and its lucrative oil industry.

Despite misgivings by many council members, the 14-0 vote was a victory for the Bush administration, which made some last-minute concessions that opened the door to an independent, albeit limited UN role and the possibility of UN weapons inspectors returning to postwar Iraq.

Syria made clear its opposition to the resolution by leaving its seat empty.

The final compromise in the seven-page resolution was an agreement by Washington for a Security Council review within 12 months on the implementation of the resolution. But the measure does not need to be renewed and stays in effect until an internationally recognised Iraqi government is established.

"It is an extremely important restoration of council consensus," said Britain's UN ambassador, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, a co-sponsor of the resolution along with Spain.

He was referring to the council's earlier refusal, particularly on the part of Russia, China, Germany and France, to authorise the US-led war against Iraq that ousted the government of President Saddam Hussein. All four voted "yes".

The UN sanctions were imposed on Iraq following its 1990 invasion of Kuwait. But after Saddam's fall, the United States argued there was no reason for the trade and financial embargoes to continue.

The resolution would give the United States and Britain broad powers to run Iraq and sell its oil to fund reconstruction. It would also protect Iraq against lawsuits or attachments of its oil revenues until a permanent government is set up.

The United States signalled its willingness this week to have inspectors from the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), responsible for nuclear materials, return to Iraq. But the Bush administration is not eager for the return of chemical, biological and missile inspectors, commanded by Hans Blix, who has openly challenged some US assertions.

Before the war, US President George W Bush repeatedly accused Iraq of having illicit weapons of mass destruction and said it would have to be disarmed by force. US teams searching for the dangerous weapons have not yet found any.

- Reuters



War in Iraq

Soldiers hot, bored and homesick

Inquiry has few bad words for war orator

Unbowed Chirac sticks to his anti-war guns

Saddam's son seeks 'safe surrender'

Dead-baby parades revealed as Iraqi charade

Iraqi army axed as sanctions lifted

US 'failed to protect' oilfields after war

Downer's dramatic flight to Baghdad

CIA takes second look at weapons claims

Troop behaviour to be investigated

Oil to flow as UN gives power to allies

Franks quits US Army

Inspiring colonel faces bashing claim

Underground for 21 years to survive Saddam's regime

US forced to scramble for UN plan

The AgeMost viewed articles
From midnight AEST

  1. Rose makes sure it counts