UN lifts Iraqi sanctions

UN: The UN Security Council put an end on Wednesday to arms and nuclear energy sanctions imposed on Iraq since the 90s.

The UN body approved three resolutions lifting the measures that prevented Iraq from acquiring nuclear, chemical, biological weapons and long-range missiles, as well as developing the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

The 15-member Council also declared invalid the still existing activities of the oil for food program and gave back to Iraq the control over its oil and natural gas revenues as of June 2011.

The decisions were adopted in a session presided over by US Vice President Joseph Biden. In his speech, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that the Iraqi government is committed to keep the country free from weapons of mass destruction and sign instruments regarding nuclear non-proliferation, chemical and biological weapons and nuclear test ban. NEW YORK, Thursday Prensa Latina