Allies seek easing of Iraq sanctions

Iraqi civilians are suffering under the sanction regime

Britain and the United States are proposing a radical change to United Nations sanctions against Iraq.

Under the proposals all controls on civilian goods would end, but severe checks on anything considered to be military or weapons-related would be imposed.

Iraq would also be able to resume civilian flights.

British officials say they will be circulating a draft UN Security Council resolution in New York next week.

At the same time, discussions are being held with countries in the Gulf region to tighten border controls on Iraq.

US review

The proposals are the result of a review of policy towards Iraq conducted by the new Bush administration and discussions among members of the Security Council.

This will mean Iraq will be free to meet all its legitimate civilian needs... But controls will be retained, hopefully with a renewed and strengthened international consensus

British official

The idea is to incorporate the changes into the regular six-monthly resolution renewing the arrangement under which Iraq is allowed to buy food, medicine and other supplies under what's called oil-for-food.

This time, British officials say, the resolution due at the beginning of June would in effect remove sanctions from what they call ordinary imports into Iraq.

Controls would remain on a list of weapons-related items.

Control of oil revenues

BBC diplomatic correspondent Barnaby Mason says the changes are significant, moving from a system where Iraq cannot import anything unless it is permitted, to one where it can import everything except what is prohibited.

It is not known how many items will be on the banned list.

Existing Security Council resolutions remain in place, and the relaxation would have to be renewed like the oil-for-food programme every six months.

The US and Britain are also insisting on maintaining the controls on Iraq's oil revenues, which have to be paid into a special UN account.

The Iraqi Government cannot be compelled to buy the civilian supplies the UN says it needs.

But the London and Washington want to ensure that by allowing free trade in all civilian goods, President Saddam Hussein will no longer be able to accuse the West of being responsible for the suffering of his people.

Tightening border controls

The officials say the aims of the proposed resolution are widely shared at the Security Council.

But the attitude of the French and the Russians, who have opposed the US and UK over Iraq, is not yet clear.

Efforts will also be made to tighten border controls on Iraq.

However Baghdad has already warned its neighbours, Jordan and Turkey, not to co-operate - or it will cut off oil exports to them.