Iraqi victims of US, British raids increase; Iraq exports up

The number of victims of the US and British raids which targeted th eal-Jusin area in the Iraqi district of Wasit increased to 20 dead, including 12 persons from one family, and the search continues to find a baby buried under the ruins.

The citizens there said that the members of the family include five women, four children, two men and a man who died after heavy wounds.

The Iraqi daily al-Thawra said on Wednesday that the city targeted by US and British raids on Tuesday is outside the no-fly zone in southern Iraq.

Meanwhile, the UN said on Wednesday that there are possibilities that Iraq will for the first time reach "the exportation ceiling" set by the UN oil-for-food program, estimated at $5.2 billion US every six months.

A UN statement said that Iraq has exported 16.4 million barrels of oil at a value of US $300 million during last week. The total amounts of oil exported by Iraq since the beginning of the sixth phase of the program, which started during June reached 152.3 million barrels at a cost of US $2.53 billion.