ISTANBUL. Aug 7 : furkey said today its fighter planes had flown 92 sorties into northern Iraq in continuing strikes against Turkish Kurdish rebels. report agencies.

A General Staff statement quoted by stale radio said the operation, joined by troops Sown into Iraq by helicopter, had caused "heavy dama^r" to

The five permanent UN Security Council members

were very close to agreement on a resolution that would allow Iraq to sell .1.5 billion Dollars worth of oil over six months under strict UN controls. the US ambassador said Wednesday.

US Ambassador Thomas R Pickering said the five perms nent members — the United States China. Britain. France and the Soviet Union - are also close to agreement on a

demand Iraqi compliance with

UN nuclear, chemical and bio logical weapons Ins pc dors

Under the proposed oil sale resolution, the funds would be placed in a UN-controlled escrow account to purchase food, medicine and other relief Uvea would monitor Thpir die tribution. Western diplomats said. Iraq would have no control over tlie funds

The diplomats said Iraq would be allowed to sell Its oil In three installments, and

stressed that the oil sale was a one time exemption and did not represent any relaxation of the economic sanctions I in posed against Iraq following Its August 1990 Invaaton of Kuwait

Western diplomats said they want to ensure that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein does not divert oil revenues to rebuild his war machine They also want to ensure that ths food and medicine la distributed equitably. Including to

ShtTtea and Kurds opposed to Saddam

US diplomats have also said Iraq still has not told the Security Council exactly how much gold and currency reserves It has at home, which could be used Io pay for relief supplies

Money from the oil sale would also be used to finance a UN compensation fund for vic time of the Invasion of Kuwait, pay UN expenses related to eliminating Iraqs weapons of

muss destruction as well u^r other UN activities related to tlx- Gulf War cease fire.

An Iraqi newspaper said today Muslim countries violated the principles of Islam by supporting a US policy of conttnu Ing sanctions against Iraq

Babil. owned and run by President Saddam Hussein s son Uday, denounced the Organisation of the Islamic Conference |OIC) for not call-. Ing for a lifting of the UN trade blockade