Iran, Iraq in oil well row
BAGHDAD
January 11, 2010
A DISPUTE between Iraq and Iran over an inactive oil well has become a rallying cry for Iraqi nationalists and exacerbated fears of excessive Iranian influence.
The fight for Fakka oil well No.4 began late last month when a contingent of 11 Iranian troops occupied the relatively insignificant well in Iraq's Maysan province. Forces from both sides are now dug in a few hundred metres apart, the oil well between them, about 400 kilometres east of Baghdad.
Iraqi and Iranian officials began talks this week to settle the dispute. But in Iraq, the incident has turned into a litmus test for parties running in March's nationwide elections.
Awadh al-Abbidan , a candidate for parliament, announced that the Lions of God Brigade, a group he said was made up of 126 southern tribes, mostly Shiite, was ready to defend Iraq's oil.
''We want to solve this peacefully, so we will not carry arms even though we are allowed,'' he said. ''But we can call upon a million Iraqis, from Anbar to Basra, to defend against the Iranian occupation. No matter what the cost, we will defend our fields.''
Sunni politicians denounced what they called the feckless response of the Iraqi security forces - the incursion was met with no resistance - whom they accuse of being compromised by Iranian influence.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who has struggled to balance his relationship with Iran, denounced the incursion - but 10 days after it had occurred. He declared that the Iranians would not get ''one drop of Iraqi oil'' or ''one metre of Iraqi land''.
''The Iranians didn't go back to their previous location,'' said Ali al-Dabbagh, a spokesman for the Iraqi Government.
''We urged them to pull completely back beyond our borders, but they have not done so.''
WASHINGTON POST
BAGHDAD
January 11, 2010
A DISPUTE between Iraq and Iran over an inactive oil well has become a rallying cry for Iraqi nationalists and exacerbated fears of excessive Iranian influence.
The fight for Fakka oil well No.4 began late last month when a contingent of 11 Iranian troops occupied the relatively insignificant well in Iraq's Maysan province. Forces from both sides are now dug in a few hundred metres apart, the oil well between them, about 400 kilometres east of Baghdad.
Iraqi and Iranian officials began talks this week to settle the dispute. But in Iraq, the incident has turned into a litmus test for parties running in March's nationwide elections.
Awadh al-Abbidan , a candidate for parliament, announced that the Lions of God Brigade, a group he said was made up of 126 southern tribes, mostly Shiite, was ready to defend Iraq's oil.
''We want to solve this peacefully, so we will not carry arms even though we are allowed,'' he said. ''But we can call upon a million Iraqis, from Anbar to Basra, to defend against the Iranian occupation. No matter what the cost, we will defend our fields.''
Sunni politicians denounced what they called the feckless response of the Iraqi security forces - the incursion was met with no resistance - whom they accuse of being compromised by Iranian influence.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who has struggled to balance his relationship with Iran, denounced the incursion - but 10 days after it had occurred. He declared that the Iranians would not get ''one drop of Iraqi oil'' or ''one metre of Iraqi land''.
''The Iranians didn't go back to their previous location,'' said Ali al-Dabbagh, a spokesman for the Iraqi Government.
''We urged them to pull completely back beyond our borders, but they have not done so.''
WASHINGTON POST