Iraq is expected to accept the latest six-month extension of its oil-for-food deal with the United Nations, an official Iraqi source said Wednesday.
"Chances for it being accepted are greater than it being rejected," the source told AFP.
The UN Security Council agreed on Tuesday to extend the program -- under which sanctions-hit Iraq exports crude in return for humanitarian supplies -- for six months and to streamline its vetting procedures to speed up delivery of supplies.
It also agreed in principle to release up to 600 million euros (540 million dollars) of Iraq's oil income in cash from the tightly controlled UN account to train and pay maintenance workers in Iraq's dilapidated oil industry.
The Iraqi leadership is studying the renewal and the Security Council's terms for the new phase starting on Wednesday are "prone to encourage its acceptance", the source said, asking not to be named -- BAGHDAD (AFP)
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