Russia criticizes pricing for Iraq

MOSCOW -- Russia said that the U.N. oil-for-food program for Iraq is on "the verge of breaking down" and accused the U.S. and Great Britain on Tuesday of hindering effective oil pricing.

"Recently a critical situation has emerged in carrying out the U.N.'s humanitarian program of oil for food for Iraq in connection with the unprecedented lowering of the level of oil exports from Iraq," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The oil-for-food program was initiated in 1996 to help improve the lives of civilians under sanctions imposed on Iraq for the 1990 invasion of Kuwait.