Monday, April 2, 2012

Tensions Rise In Iraq Over Oil

Baghdad and Arbil have squabbled over payments, revenue-sharing and the central government’s refusal to recognize deals Kurdish officials have signed with foreign energy firms. (File photo)

Iraqi Kurdistan Halts Oil Exports Over Pay Dispute -- Reuters

* Baghdad says payments have been approved
* Oil rights at heart of long-running dispute

BAGHDAD, April 1 (Reuters) - Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region halted its oil exports on Sunday, accusing the central government in Baghdad of failing to make payments to companies working there in the latest clash in their long-running dispute over oil rights.

The disagreement heightens tensions in a broader dispute between Iraqi Arabs and ethnic Kurds over contested land, political autonomy and oil that has become a potential flashpoint for Iraq since the last U.S. troops left in December.

Read me ....

Update #1: Iraq’s Kurdish region halts oil exports over payment row with Baghdad -- Washington Post/AP
Update #2: Iraq's Shahristani says Kurdish oil halt hurts budget -- Reuters
Update #3: Iraq's Shahristani says Kurdish oil smuggled, mainly to Iran -- Reuters

My Comment: At least the death toll from violence in Iraq has declined to the lowest level since the 2003 invasion. More on this decrease of violence here.

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