A United Nations (UN) vote on revising sanctions against Baghdad to speed up goods that help ordinary Iraqis has been delayed at the request of Russia and Syria, according to diplomats.
US State Department spokesman Mr Richard Boucher attributed the delay in the UN Security Council to Russia's Victory Day holiday marking the defeat of Nazi Germany 57 years ago and a gala children's rights conference at the United Nations.
Other envoys said the vote may not be held until Tuesday and that Russian President Mr Vladimir Putin still had to sign off on the resolution.
Syria, Iraq's neighbour, also raised misgivings about the plan, with its diplomats saying they needed further instructions from Damascus. The resolution can be adopted without Syria, which does not have veto power, but members prefer council unity.
Ironically, Syria itself has been cited by diplomats and oil analysts for violating sanctions for the past two years by illegally importing Iraqi crude oil outside the UN system.