Iraq: Sanctions 10 years on

Sanctions were agreed by the UN security council

Sanctions were first imposed against Iraq in August 1990 within days of the country's invasion of neighbouring Kuwait.

The sanctions were introduced with the backing of the United Nations' Security Council.

International embargoes against Iraq have been progressively relaxed in the 10 years since the Gulf War in an attempt to ease the suffering on civilians.

Many Western countries believe that the case for sanctions remain. Others believe they hurt an innocent Iraqi population and prop up a military dictatorship.

Saddam Hussein is accused of exporting oil illicitly to get funds

The first sanctions were introduced under UN Security Council resolution 661.

The August 1990 resolution banned all imports from Iraq and almost all exports to the country. Financial support and commercial flights to Iraq were also banned.

Only "supplies intended strictly for medical purposes and, in humanitarian circumstances, foodstuffs" were exempt from the embargo.

Oil for food

In 1991, the UN considered a proposal that would ease the impact of global sanctions on ordinary Iraqis.

However, the oil for food programme was delayed for a further five years because of differences between the UN and Iraq over how the scheme would work.

Under the programme, Iraq was initially permitted to sell up to $4 billion of oil a year and spend the proceeds on food and humanitarian supplies.

This ceiling was raised to $10.5 billion in 1998 and lifted altogether in 1999.

Iraq has sold in excess of $39 billion worth of oil under the programme. However, according to the UN, humanitarian imports to the part of Iraq under the control of Saddam Hussein have totalled just $9.3bn.

Other imports permitted under the programme include equipment for electricity supply, water and sanitation, agriculture, education, telecommunications, transport and housing.

Oil production

Since 1998, the UN has allowed Iraq to import $600m worth of oil production equipment a year. This rose to $1.2bn from 1999.

Western states, including the UK, have repeatedly accused Saddam of blocking permitted imports of humanitarian supplies while spending millions on the military and on luxuries for himself.

There have been extensive naval operations in the Gulf to prevent illicit exports.

However, according to Western states, Iraq has succeeded in smuggling out large quantities of oil, using the proceeds for non-humanitarian supplies including cigarettes, whisky and luxury vehicles.

The Iraqi government has even been accused of exporting food and medical supplies, including a consignment of asthma inhalers supplied by the UN and later found on a black market in Lebanon.

In 1995, the UN Security Council passed resolution 986. This enabled the proceeds from the oil-for-food programme to be divided by the UN.

Under this arrangement, half of the proceeds go to central and southern Iraq, over which Saddam has control. A further 13% is earmarked for the Kurdish north, which is not under government control.

The remaining 30% - later reduced to 25% - is allocated to a UN compensation fund for the victims of the invasion of Kuwait.

The Iraqi government has responsibility for buying and distributing humanitarian supplies within the area it controls, while the UN carries out that work in the north.

All contracts for trade with Iraq have to go to the UN in New York for approval. All proposals vetted to ensure supplies cannot be used for a second military purpose as well as for humanitarian means.

In December 1999, the UN Security Council passed resolution 1284 lifting the limit on oil sales under the oil-for-food programme.

It also allowed the UN to introduce a "fast track" vetting system for basic supplies.