Panel Votes to Renew Iraq Oil Sales Plan

The Security Council unanimously voted to renew a plan enabling Iraq to sell limited amounts of oil to buy food and medicine for its people. But the 15-member body delayed a decision on whether Iraq could sell more oil until after it receives a report from Secretary-General Kofi Annan, due Jan. 30. The resolution allows Iraq to sell $2 billion worth of oil over six months. The oil-for-food program, which expires today, aims to alleviate the impact of trade sanctions imposed after Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990. The resolution also expresses the Security Council’s “willingness” to increase the oil sales, depending on Annan’s recommendations.