Chronology of UN sanctions imposed on Iraq

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) Apr 17, 2003
The UN sanctions on Iraq which US President George W. Bush wants to lift were imposed and refined by a long series of Security Council resolutions over more than a decade.

- August 6, 1990: The council imposes comprehensive and mandatory sanctions on Iraq, only four days after Saddam Hussein's army invaded Kuwait on August 2.

The most sweeping ever ordered, they include a ban on all trade with Iraq, an embargo on its oil exports and an arms embargo. International flights to and from Iraq are suspended. Iraq's financial assets are frozen and financial transactions prohibited.

A committee is set up to enforce the sanctions. It becomes known as the 661 committee, after the council resolution which created it.

- April 3, 1991: Resolution 687 defines the Gulf War ceasefire after a US-led coalition drives the Iraqis from Kuwait after a seven-month occupation. It sets down conditions for lifting sanctions which include:

Iraq's recognition of the Kuwaiti border, destruction of its chemical and biological weapons as well as missiles with a range of more than 150 kilometres (90 miles), payment of Iraqi debts prior to the invasion and war damages, return of Kuwaiti and foreign prisoners, creation of a compensation fund drawn from Iraqi oil export revenues.

The resolution exempts food from the embargo and establishes the UN Special Commission (UNSCOM) to disarm Iraq.

- August 15, 1991: Resolution 706 authorizes an oil-for-food programme, financed by Iraqi oil exports limited to 1.6 billion dollars every six months.

It and Resolution 712, adopted September 19, set aside 30 percent of Iraq's oil revenues for Kuwaiti war compensation. Iraq rejects both resolutions.

- April 14, 1995: The terms of oil-for-food are modified by Resolution 986, giving Baghdad responsibility for distributing imports of humanitarian supplies. The ceiling on oil sales is raised to two billion dollars.

Iraq does not accept its terms until 1996 and the programme comes into effect in December of that year.

- December 17, 1999: Resolution 1284 removes the financial ceiling on Iraq's oil sales and instructs the 661 committee to streamline vetting of its imports.

For the first time, it offers Iraq the possibility of having sanctions suspended, if it cooperates fully with the new UN arms inspectorate, UNMOVIC.

- March 17, 2003: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan suspends the oil-for-food programme and orders the evacuation of all UN staff from Iraq on the eve of war. On March 28, the council adopts Resolution 1472, giving Annan authority to take over administration of the programme for 45 days.

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