Gulf
oil supplies secure despite Qaeda threats: Qatar
AFP
DOHA
Petroleumworld.com
02 26 06
Gulf oil supplies are secure despite fresh threats by the Al-Qaeda
network after a foiled suicide bombing against Saudi Arabia's
biggest processing plant, Qatar's energy minister said Sunday.
"I am confident Gulf producers are taking very strong precautions,"
Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah told reporters in Doha at a meeting
of Western and Muslim leaders.
"Security is there and available and is at its highest level
and I believe there will be no disruption of supplies."
Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for Friday's thwarted attempt
to blow up the Abqaiq plant which left two security men and at
least two assailants dead.
It vowed to carry out more attacks against Saudi oil installations,
according to a purported message from the terror group posted
on the Internet Saturday.
Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had called on his followers in
December 2004 to attack oil facilities throughout the Gulf arguing
that this would destabilise the region's pro-American monarchies.
But Attiyah said the region's oil sector can deal with the Al-Qaeda
threat the way it managed to live through the wars and conflicts
that have engulfed the area over the past 50 years.
"For the last 50 years the Middle East and especially the
Gulf had the best security of supply," he said.
Attiyah was speaking on the sidelines of the UN-sponsored Alliance
of Civilizations, which aims to promote understanding between
East and West.
Qatar borders on eastern Saudi Arabia where the failed attack
took place and is a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries (OPEC).
It has pumped billions of dollars over the past decade in building
oil and gas installations to tap its rich resources.
Oil prices surged on Friday in the aftermath of the aborted attack
in Saudi Arabia on concerns over security of supplies from the
world's largest producer.
New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in April,
soared 2.37 dollars to 62.91 dollars per barrel in closing trading
after spiking as high as 63.25 dollars.
AFP
02 26 06
Copyright
© 2006 AFP. All rights reserved
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