Iraq has once again accused the United States and Britain of using their vote in the United Nations sanctions committee to block contracts for medical supplies and other equipment. The announcements came as a delegation of Russian parliamentarians who have been in Iraq delivering humanitarian supplies were preparing to leave. The Russians promised they would be sending another plane with food and medicines in the New Year. From Baghdad, our correspondent Rageh Omaar reports.

The Iraqi authorities say despite their denials the United States and Britain have obstructed a number of contracts from being approved by the United Nations.

In the past two weeks the BBC has been given documents which the Iraqi authorities say are a detailed list of equipment and supplies, mainly medical and agricultural materials which have not gone through the UN sanctions committee because of the United States and Britain.

Washington has dismissed the allegations as baseless.

But the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, has now received details of a new distribution plan for the so-called 'food-for-oil' deal under which Iraq is allowed to sell a limited amount of oil in return for essential supplies.

Iraq had refused to co-operate until a new plan was introduced and approved saying they would suspend oil exports.

Once the plan has been approved in the next few days Iraq will once again begin to pump oil thus giving the UN's humanitarian operations in the country a new lease of life.