(December 19, 2003) The fate of Russian companies and economic interests in Iraq will affect Moscow’s position in talks on relieving Baghdad’s massive international debt burden, a top diplomat said Friday.

(December 19, 2004) While Washington pats itself on the back for forgiving Iraqi debt owed since the 1980s, critics say the relief comes with dangerous strings attached and argue that the debt should have been null and void.

(December 18, 2004) Lifting the crushing burden of the old regime’s debt is one of the most important contributions we can make to Iraq’s new beginning," said US secretary of state Colin Powell.

(December 17, 2004) The United States will try to convince more of Iraq’s creditors to forgive the country’s debt, Treasury Secretary John Snow said on Friday.

(December 17, 2004) In fact the United States will go beyond the 80 percent reduction agreed at the Paris Club and forgive 100 percent of the 4.1 billion dollars Iraq owes the United States from the Saddam era.

(December 17, 2004) Iraq needs "pretty darn near full" debt forgiveness to recover, said Frederick Barton, a researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington policy study group.

(December 17, 2004) Iraq’s other creditors, including its neighbors in the Middle East, some European countries not in the Paris Club and private commercial creditors, are feeling the squeeze to accept the Paris Club’s 80 percent debt-forgiveness formula.

(December 14, 2004) A New Zealand doctor and United Nations employee who co-wrote a book exposing sex, drugs and corruption among UN peacekeeping forces says he is being sacked.

(December 13, 2004) Iraq has about $16 billion to $22 billion of commercial debt outstanding, although that total may rise as more claimants come forward.

(December 10, 2004) Russia’s reversal of its longstanding position opposing Iraqi debt forgiveness is ‘inextricably linked’ to the Iraqi government’s reconsideration of agreements between Russian oil companies and the former regime of Saddam Hussein.

(December 9, 2004) The government wants the world to write off the debts of the poorest countries, sponsor research for new malaria and AIDS vaccines and complete global trade talks during its presidency of the G8 rich nations club next year.

(December 8, 2004) It is uncontroversial to argue that US policies and interests are widely reflected in the decisions taken and the statements made by the Iraqi interim authorities.

(December 6, 2004) British Prime Minister Tony Blair gave his personal endorsement Monday to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who has come under fire in the United States over the oil-for-food program in Iraq.

(December 4, 2004) US President George W. Bush increased the pressure on Kofi Annan over Iraq’s oil-for-food scandal yesterday, pointedly declining to endorse the UN Secretary-General.