"I appeal to all concerned to put aside political considerations and concentrate on the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people," Benon Sevan, executive director of the United Nations' "oil-for-food" program for Iraq, told the UN Security Council in a closed session. AFP later obtained a copy of his remarks.

A council resolution adopted last week gave Secretary General Kofi Annan control for 45 days over the humanitarian side of the UN program that uses Iraq's oil revenues for food and medical supplies.

But Sevan said that would not be enough to meet the country's needs amid a US-led war to unseat the regime of President Saddam Hussein.

"The Oil-for-Food pipeline does not have everything that people need in an emergency," Sevan said. "Furthermore there is no way for us to deliver during the 45-day period everything which may be available in the pipeline to meet the emergency needs of the people of Iraq."

SPACE.WIRE