UNITED NATIONS — Iraq called yesterday for a widening of the investigation of the U.N. oil-for-food program and demanded the immediate return of money in the U.N. account that paid for administration of the humanitarian-relief effort.

Iraq's U.N. Ambassador Samir Sumaidaie also repeated the government's demand that the United Nations stop using oil-for-food money to pay for the independent investigation into the program led by former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker.

"It is outrageous that Iraqi funds were mismanaged and then we have to pay for finding out about the mismanagement," he said at a news conference a day after Volcker issued an interim report saying the program was undermined by mismanagement and political cronyism and that its chief was guilty of serious conflicts of interest.

The oil-for-food program, launched in December 1996 to help ordinary Iraqis cope with U.N. sanctions imposed after Saddam Hussein's 1990 invasion of Kuwait, quickly became a lifeline for 90 percent of the country's population of 26 million.

Under the program, Saddam's regime could sell oil, provided the proceeds went to buy humanitarian goods or pay war reparations. Saddam's government decided on the goods it wanted, who should provide them and who could buy Iraqi oil. But the Security Council committee overseeing sanctions monitored the contracts.

Iraqi force buildup said behind schedule

WASHINGTON — The U.S. general in charge of building up Iraqi security forces conceded yesterday that the program was behind schedule but said there was strong momentum toward creating a credible force.

Army Lt. Gen. David Petraeus, briefing reporters at the Pentagon from Baghdad, said commanders planned to shift some U.S. troops from fighting insurgents to training new Iraqi security forces but did not say how many.

The Bush administration says it will withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq only after an Iraqi force has been established that can provide security in the country, still gripped by a bloody insurgency 22 months after the U.S.-led invasion. There are about 150,000 U.S. troops in Iraq.

Petraeus said the formation of Iraqi security forces was "behind a bit in raw numbers, but, again, not all that much" and put the number of trained and equipped forces at 136,000.

Three French militants held by coalition forces

PARIS — Three French citizens who joined the rebel insurgency in Iraq have been held by coalition forces since being captured there last year, officials said yesterday.

The report comes amid a broadening investigation in France into networks sending young French Muslims to Iraq to battle U.S.-led forces.

Last week, French intelligence agents arrested two volunteers preparing to leave for Iraq and the man suspected of organizing the network, effectively dismantling the operation, police have said. Three other French militants who went to Iraq through the same Paris-based network have died there.

The three French Muslims were detained for involvement with rebels in Fallujah and for attempted armed robbery of a government car carrying money, said Danny Hussein Ali, a secretary of the Iraqi human-rights minister.

Hostage's daughter pleads for his release

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The daughter of a contractor being held hostage in Iraq pleaded for his release and said she wants his captors to see a photo of his 7-year-old granddaughter so they understand he has a family that wants him home.

"If they can find peace in their heart, his family needs him," Amanda Hallums, 25, told The Commercial Appeal on Thursday. "Please release him."

Roy Hallums, 56, and another man were taken from their office in Baghdad on Nov. 1. In a video that aired Jan. 25, he was shown pleading for his life with a rifle pointed at his head.

Also

Abu Ghraib penalty: A military jury at Fort Hood, Texas, yesterday began deliberating the punishment for Sgt. Javal Davis, 27, for his abuse of Iraqi detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison. The Army reservist faces up to 6-1/2 years in prison for battery, dereliction of duty and lying to Army investigators.