US continues to abuse its power against Iraq

The Iraqi oil minister Amer Muhammad Rasheed on Thursday accused the US of suspending 673 oil contracts and agreements of a total value of $ 722 million, within the framework of the previous phases of the "oil for food" programs.

The Iraqi minister said that these contracts and agreements are for the ministry of oil, stressing they are not for the ministries of defense and military processing.

He said that among these contracts is a contract to well- drilling and well equipment for the workers including the clothing the workers wear and a preventive system and this is under the pretext that these items have dual use (ie military and civilian).

Meantime, INA reported that an official source at Ministry of Trade told it that "US and British delegates at 661 Committee suspended new 18 contracts Iraq has signed with world companies under financial allocations of oil-for- food and medicines deal.... that those contracts included cars, production lines, generators, medical equipment and medicines and different raw materials."