51.   The Iraqis called for unfreezing Iraqi assets, easing U.N. sanctions and obtaining millions of dollars in food and medicine.

52.   The Israeli Prime Minister has said he will ease sanctions in parallel with Palestinian steps against militants.

53.   The officials said, though, that the administration was considering ways to improve relations with China, and that easing the sanctions was among them.

54.   The Senate also passed a non-binding measure on easing sanctions last year, and is expected to back the Nethercutt proposal or something close to it.

55.   The United States has blocked efforts by France, Russia and China to begin easing U.N. sanctions imposed on Iraq after its invasion of Kuwait.

56.   The United States and Britain have been under pressure from other members of the U.N. Security Council to ease the sanctions.

57.   The United States and its Security Council allies have said repeatedly that there will be no bargaining between the United Nations and Iraq over terms of easing sanctions.

58.   The United States will need cooperation from its partners in coming months on other issues like easing economic sanctions against Iraq.

59.   The White House had no immediate comment on whether it would continue to ease sanctions on Pakistan, or grant aid to the other central Asia nations.

60.   The United States is expected to reward North Korea by easing trade sanctions, and perhaps later by sending food and other aid.