Iraq says 'Allies' creating humanitarian crisis

Iraq today accused Britain and the US of creating a humanitarian crisis by forcing the United Nations to halt food and medicine destined for the country.

Iraq’s Trade Minister Mohammed Mehdi Saleh denounced what he called the “inhumane and immoral behaviour” of the two countries for blocking the UN’s oil-for-food programme.

“There are products and contracts currently on ships and near the border and some are in Jordan,” the minister said.

But he said Iraq was a country that could fend for itself.

“Iraq does not need any humanitarian assistance. We are a rich country,” he said.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan decried the lack of Arab action in supporting Iraq, hinting that the Arabs should instead impose an oil embargo on the US and Britain.

“Why don’t they stop the flow of oil to the countries of aggression?” he asked. but he did not make an explicit call for such a step.