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Iraq Reopens Payment Spat With U.N., Holding Up Oil

Crude Prices Rise Following Demand That Buyers Pay a Barrel Surcharge

Despite last week's oil accord with the United Nations, Iraq is still holding up exports.

The reason: Saddam Hussein appears to have revived his demand that buyers of Iraq's discounted oil pay the country a surcharge for every barrel. The demand -- down to 40 cents a barrel from the original 50 cents -- violates U.N. sanctions and resulted in Iraq's halting of oil exports on Dec.&nbsp;1 when buyers refused to pay it.