The United Nations Security Council has lifted a series of international sanctions that were imposed on Iraq during the rule of Saddam Hussein. These include ending a ban on import of chemicals and nuclear technology imposed to prevent Saddam Hussein from building weapons of mass destruction. The remaining elements of the controversial oil for food programme are also ending. At a special session chaired by US Vice President Joe Biden, the 15-nation Council also ended the international control of the Development Fund for Iraq. The Fund that contains money from oil and natural gas revenues will be under UN supervision until June, and then managed by the Iraqi authorities.Now that Iraq signed treaties that prohibit the development of chemical and biological weapons, the country can develop a civilian nuclear programme.Baghdad is also expected to ratify the additional protocol that will allow UN inspectors to make surprise visits to its nuclear facilities in the future.Iraq's Foreign Minister, Hoshyar Zebari said that the move marks the beginning of the end of the sanctions regime and restrictions on Iraq's sovereignty, independence and recovery. These decisions come at a time when the US has formally ended its operations in Iraq, politicians are struggling to form a government in Baghdad, and Iraqi Christians have come under attack.