31.   U.N. and Iraqi officials say the main stumbling block is the system for distributing food and medicine, particularly to Iraqi Kurds in three northern provinces.

32.   Under the current system, Iraq submits a plan for distributing food and medicine purchased with oil revenues every six months when the program is renewed.

33.   He suggested Iraq might empower UN officials to act on its behalf in distributing food in the Kurdish north.

34.   In April the group was also banned from distributing food to two blockaded villages in the north.

35.   Iraq has complained about the delay in distributing food and medicine.

36.   Iraq is to submit a detailed plan for distributing food and medicines it will buy for the approval of UN secretary general Boutros Boutros-Ghali.

37.   Amnesty said that armed groups have accused aid organisations of supporting their opponents by distributing food and medical supplies.

38.   Anbari earlier told the Arab daily al-Hayat that Iraq might empower UN officials to act on its behalf in distributing food in the Kurdish north.

39.   To reduce the risk that that power is abused, women are being given the task of distributing food, he said.

40.   Kaviar said, however, that the regional government and the military since Saturday had been actively distributing food and medicine to quake victims.