Iraq oil minister returns
to job after price protest
AFP
BAGHDAD
Petroleumworld.com 01 10 06
Iraqi Oil Minister Ibrahim Bahr al-Ulum who last month said he
was resigning his job in protest at fuel price hikes has returned
to his post, the government said Monday.
"Bahr al-Ulum has resumed his activities as oil minister
after taking back his resignation at the request of the Prime
Minister (Ibrahim Jaafari), members of the cabinet and certain
religious leaders," said a statement.
Upon returning to his post, Ulum chaired a meeting of oil ministry
officials to look at the distribution of oil products, it added.
Following Bahr al-Ulum's resignation, disgraced former US ally
and current Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Chalabi was named as his
temporary replacement.
His move to such a powerful position would likely have been frowned
upon by Washington, which fell out with Chalabi in the aftermath
of the March 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.
Bahr al-Ulum stepped down in protest at a government decision
to treble the price of oil in a bid to reduce state subsidies
which account for about half the government's budget.
The unpopular move prompted widespread demonstrations around the
country.
Iraq's oil industry is struggling despite the country's vast reserves.
Oil infrastructure has been the target of persistent insurgent
attacks since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003.
Rebels attacks on oil pipelines hit the struggling Iraqi economy
and increase dissatisfaction among Iraqis angry at a lack of electricity
from oil-powered generators and lengthy queues at petrol stations.
Last Wednesday, four separate convoys of oil tankers were ambushed
by gunmen or bomb blasts, leaving three drivers dead.
AFP
01/09/06
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© 2006 AFP. All rights reserved
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