US: Kuwait seized Iraqi food exports

A statement issued by the US State Department yesterday said that Kuwait had seized three dhows sailing in Kuwaiti waters that carried food items from Iraq.

The statement, delivered by State Department spokesman James Rubin, said the items that were found on the ships included "50 tons of dates, 22 tons of licorice, and 446 sacks of jute seeds, which is used to grow animal fodder. In addition to these items, a large amount of edible grains were also on board: 100 tons of green lentils, 70 tons of another grain used to flavor sweets and considered beneficial for nursing mothers and other homeopathic remedies, and 144 tons of clover, also used for animal feed."

It asserted that the export of food "demonstrates yet again the Government of Iraq's total disregard for the welfare of the Iraqi people. Despite its claims that the Iraqi people are suffering from a lack of food, the Government of Iraq is smuggling food items, agricultural feed and other consummables to sell for hard currency abroad."

It added, "While exporting food from Iraq, Baghdad still refuses to purchase recommended nutritional supplements, despite the fact that it will generate over $6 billion in revenue in the current six-month phase of the oil-for-food program."

Rubin said the US does not believe the goods were being smuggled out of the country without the knowledge of the Iraqi government, "It may often happen in some countries, but in Iraq we have every reason to believe that nobody can get away with sending large vessels filled with so much goods as this without the government knowing about it."

Kuwait has said before that it has seized ships exporting Iraqi humanitarian goods, while Iraq has accused the US of "piracy" in attacks on Iraqi ships.

Iraq also often accuses the US and UK of delaying the approval of contracts reached under the oil-for-food agreement with the UN.