Baghdad celebrates end of sanctions

BAGHDAD, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- Residents of Baghdad said they were overwhelmed with joy after the U.N. Security Council lifted sanctions imposed on the former regime.

The U.N. Security Council passed resolutions Wednesday that U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said advanced normalization of Iraq's ties to the international community.

The three approved resolutions will end the United Nations-supervised arrangements for the Development Fund for Iraq on June 30; end restrictions related to civilian nuclear cooperation imposed after the first Gulf War; and end residual activities of the Oil for Food program, the vice president's office said in a release.

The sanctions stemmed from Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait in 1990.

Baghdad residents told the Voices of Iraq news agency there were anxious to take their rightful place on the international stage.

Iraq, one resident said, "would take back its breath" after suffering under crippling sanctions and enduring a generation worth of wars.

Meanwhile, Shiite leaders in the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council expressed their "full support" for the emerging government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Maliki won enough support for a second term in November. His new administration is expected to be announced before the end of the year.