Iraq Accuses Kurds of Seizing Oil Fields

Via Al-Manar

Iraq accused Kurdish forces of seizing two northern oil fields near the disputed city of Kirkuk Friday, as relations between Baghdad and the autonomous Kurdistan region hit a new low.

 The Kurdish regional administration rejected the charge, which marks an escalation of tensions. "The oil ministry strongly condemns the seizure and control of crude oil (wells) in the Kirkuk and Bey Hassan oil fields this morning by groups of Kurdish peshmerga forces," Iraq's oil ministry said in a statement.

 "The oil ministry strongly warns the Kurdistan region of the danger of this irresponsible behavior which violates the constitution and the national wealth, and disregards the federal authorities and threatens national unity."

Halkurd Mulla Ali, the spokesman for the ministry responsible for Kurdish peshmerga forces, told AFP that "peshmerga forces have not approached the oil fields in Kirkuk" province.

Iraqi lawmakers are due to meet on Sunday for a parliamentary session meant to revive flagging efforts to form a new government. The only other time parliament has met since April polls ended with MPs exchanging heckles and others walking out.

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