The UN Office of the Iraq Programme reported that in the course of the week that started on 30 December, Baghdad had exported 1.8 million barrels of oil, earning an estimated $32 million. During the same period, the UN oil overseers and the Security Council committee monitoring the sanctions against Iraq approved four new contracts for the purchase of Iraqi oil, comprising a total of 12 million barrels destined for the United States as well as Far Eastern and European markets.

During that week, the committee also approved 36 contracts for humanitarian supplies and six contracts for the purchase of oil spare parts and equipment. Another nine contracts were processed by the Office under "fast track" procedures, which allow for action without direct endorsement by the sanctions committee, based on pre-approved lists of various types of supplies.

Meanwhile, a UN spokesman announced today that on Monday the sanctions committee had discussed a request by Iraq to allocate 1 billion euros from oil-for-food programme funds to assist the Palestinians. Deliberations on the matter are expected to continue next week.