Iraqis Stone U.N. Officials

Even as U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan recommended Monday increasing the $2 billion worth of oil Iraq is allowed to sell every six months under an “oil-for-food” program, scores of Iraqis, angry at cuts in food rations, stoned U.N. officials who monitor the arrival of supplies, a United Nations official said.

Spokesman Eric Falt said a rock smashed the window of a U.N. vehicle, but no one was hurt.

“There is a lot of frustration among the Iraqi people on the delays in the arrival of food and medical shipments under the oil-for-food deal,” he said.

A U.N. source said Annan considered recommending a boost in Iraqi oil sales to $3 billion every six months. But he later decided to leave the precise figure of an increase up to the Security Council. Diplomats said the council is expected this week to continue the existing program and consider an increase later.