Iraq given one week extension

United Nations - A divided UN Security Council extended the Iraq oil-for-food program by one week yesterday, by eleven votes …

United Nations - A divided UN Security Council extended the Iraq oil-for-food program by one week yesterday, by eleven votes to none. Iraq had already said it would continue to refuse to sell oil, for which it is allowed to buy food and medicine, in protest at the vote. Two permanent members, China and Russia, abstained from the vote and a third, France, did not take part. The other two permanent members, Britain and the United States, voted for the extension which they hope will put pressure on the council to adopt a broader resolution on Iraqi policy before the end of the year.