Iraq: Annan welcomes US decision to release humanitarian contracts; $3.7 billion remain stuck

United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, on Monday welcomed a decision by the United States to release over 400 humanitarian contracts for Iraq that had been placed on hold by the committee monitoring the sanctions against Baghdad.

In a statement released by his spokesman, Annan said he was "encouraged" by the US decision on Friday to release holds placed on 410 applications valued at $703.5 million.

The applications related to the agriculture, food handling, education, electricity, health, housing, water and sanitation, and oil sectors.

The statement also appealed to all Security Council members to "expedite the approval of applications and spare no effort in lifting the remaining holds placed on applications."

As of the end of May, 1,651 applications valued at $3.7 billion were on hold, according to the statement.