The Kuwaiti tab

Post-war, the United Nations ordered Iraq to pay billions of dollars in compensation to its oil-rich southern neighbour. With Saddam gone and Baghdad under the control of the United States, a long-time Kuwaiti ally, Iraq believed the reparations would be cancelled and friendly relations resumed, Nizar Latif reports for The National. Instead, Kuwait has been urging the UN Security Council to uphold the repayments, with $25.5 billion (Dh94bn) still owing. An extra $16bn in debt, lent to Iraq during the 1980s to fund its war with Iran, is also being demanded. Kuwait sent an envoy to council members to lobby their support, insisting that Iraq’s international obligations have still not been met and apply to the new government of Nouri al Maliki, just as they applied to Saddam Hussein. Iraqis, who believe they have already paid heavily enough for Saddam’s folly with 10 years of devastating sanctions, are outraged. --