The U.N. was due to discuss the oil for food program Tuesday.

CNN: British troops in southern Iraq.

But Iraqi Trade Minister Muhammad Mahdi al-Salih Tuesday said the U.S. and Britain were holding up shipments of food and medical supplies which Iraq would receive under the oil for food program.

CNN: British troops in southern Iraq.

Oil for Food Program.

FORBES: The Corporate Responsibility to Prevent Corruption

For example, in 1999, the German multinational Siemens sold Saddam Hussein many sets of lithotripters under the rubric of medical equipment Iraq has been permitted to purchase as part of the so-called "oil for food" program.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Opportunities for Financial War on Terrorism

Blair said EU nations agreed that the U.N. oil-for-food program should be restarted and that Iraq's oil riches should be used to build a prosperous post-Saddam nation.

CNN: Blair: Troops closing on Baghdad

Last June, the United States could not gain Russian support for the new plan and had to delay the Iraqi oil-for-food program until the end of November.

CNN: U.S. wants new sanctions against Iraq

Chalabi said the Coalition Provisional Authority is unhappy with his demands for Iraq's provisional government to be given full control of the Iraqi army after the June 30 handover and for control of the investigation of fraud in the U.N. oil-for-food program.

CNN: Chalabi suspected of giving U.S. secrets to Iran

Indeed, the problems Ambassador Bolton will face during his first few months on the job include the crisis in Darfur, the ongoing Iraq War, Lebanon's efforts to assert its independence from Syria, the possibility of the Security Council's having to deal with Iran's nuclear program and the upcoming Volker report on possible corruption in the UN oil-for-food program.

NPR: Ambassadors React to Bolton Appointment

The warehouse is stocked with hundreds of tons of food and had been used as a distribution center under the U.N. oil-for-food program.

CNN: Troops take Basra food warehouse

The U.N. created the oil-for-food program as a loophole in post-Gulf War sanctions, allowing Iraq to sell oil so Baghdad could purchase food, medicine and other humanitarian needs.

CNN: Iraq rejects proposed changes to new sanctions

's Oil-for-Food program, which ran from 1996 to 2003 and was aimed at helping the people of U.N.

FORBES: Freedom's Edge

Russia and France have outstanding oil contracts with the former regime of Saddam Hussein, reached under the oil-for-food program.

CNN: Moscow talks stumble over Iraq

He also worked in the private sector as an investment banker and headed the investigation into the United Nations' oil-for-food program for Iraq.

CNN: Official: Obama could name more administration picks Friday

Security Council is due to discuss the oil-for-food program on Tuesday.

CNN: Coalition blocking aid, says Iraq

Iraq has already rejected an extension of the current oil-for-food program and the new British proposal that would loosen restrictions on trade with Iraq, except for a list of restricted items.

CNN: Iraq rejects proposed changes to new sanctions

In that connection, another reason for the exodus of Western companies from Iraq -- over and above the looming threat of military conflict -- has been a new rule put in place regarding the UN-approved oil- for-food program.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy