Speaking at a news conference, Ramadan said the program is modified by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan without consultation with Iraq, describing the measure as "stealing money of the Iraqi people."

The resolution on revamping the UN oil-for-food program for Iraq, which was suspended last week, was approved unanimously by the 15-member UN Security Council on Friday.

The resolution is designed to tap billions of dollars in Iraqi oil revenues to purchase food and medicine in a bid to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in the war.

It authorizes UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and representatives designated by him to undertake as "an urgent first step" to make "technological and temporary adjustments" to the program.

The resolution ruled that the measure "shall remain in force for a period of 45 days following the adoption" of the resolution.

By referring to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention on the responsibilities of the "occupying power," the resolution makes clear that the chief responsibility for addressing humanitarian consequences of the war would fall to the United States and Britain.

(Xinhua News Agency March 30, 2003)