The Iraqi government has said it will not accept any more humanitarian aid from countries sympathetic to it.

The cabinet, chaired by President Saddam Hussein, said Iraq's allies should instead campaign vigorously for the lifting of United Nations sanctions.

It thanked them, but said Iraqis did not need money and were not lazy people who asked for help.

In recent months, Iraq has received humanitarian aid from Syria, Egypt and several other Arab countries.

In another development, Iraq said it had signed contracts with fifteen foreign companies as part of its agreement with the United Nations, which allows Baghdad to buy humanitarian supplies with the revenue from oil sales.