U.N. Extends Oil Embargo On Iraq

After intense U.S. lobbying, the U.N Security Council agreed on Monday to extend crippling oil embargo and trade sanctions against Iraq at least until May.

Despite counter-arguments by Iraq and eagerness by France and Russia to ease the ban on oil sales, council members maintained the embargo imposed after Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990.

Washington has demanded repeatedly that the sanctions continue until Iraq cooperates with U.N. weapons monitors, returns missing Kuwaiti military equipment and improves its human rights record.

Council resolutions approved after the Persian Gulf War require Iraq to cooperate with U.N. inspectors dismantling and monitoring its programs to manufacture long-range missiles, poison gas and other weapons of mass destruction.