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Tells Iran: 'Get Out Of Our Oilfield'
8:26pm UK, Friday December 18, 2009
Adam Arnold, Sky News Online
Iraq has demanded the immediate withdrawal of Iranian troops who have apparently seized control of a disputed oilfield in the south after "infiltrating" the border.
An oilfield in Iraq, similar to the fields in the disputed border area
Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said his country viewed the alleged Iranian incursion into the Fakka oilfield and the area known as 'Well Number Four' as a violation of its sovereignty.
He added that Iraq is seeking a peaceful, diplomatic solution to the situation.
Earlier, Iraq's deputy interior minister Ahmed Ali al-Khafaji said a group of 11 men had raised an Iranian flag and remained at the site.
Iraq has not begun military action in response and its forces are waiting for orders, he added.
Iran has denied the incursion into Iraqi territory.
A spokesman for the US military confirmed the soldiers had taken control of the oil well but added it was in "disputed territory" near the border and happened fairly frequently.
"There has been no violence related to this incident and we trust this will be resolved through peaceful diplomacy between the governments of Iraq and Iran," he said.
Another American official, Colonel Peter Newell, said: "What happens is, periodically, about every three or four months, the oil ministry guys from Iraq will go... to fix something or do some maintenance.
"They'll paint it in Iraqi colours and throw an Iraqi flag up.
"They'll hang out there for a while, until they get tired, and as soon as they go away, the Iranians come down the hill and paint it Iranian colours and raise an Iranian flag.
"It happened about three months ago and it will probably happen again."
Sky News' foreign affairs editor Tim Marshall said the incident was a sign of Iran "clearly pushing".
"Its all a bit mysterious but the most likely explanation is that Tehran is sending a message to the world - well to the Israelis and Americans: 'Don't even think of attacking us, you know what might happen if you do'," he explained.
Well 4 is one of five in the Fakka Field, which is estimated to hold 1.55 million barrels of reserve oil. It is 500m from the Iranian border.
Mods: Please correct the title "Iraq tells Iran"
8:26pm UK, Friday December 18, 2009
Adam Arnold, Sky News Online
Iraq has demanded the immediate withdrawal of Iranian troops who have apparently seized control of a disputed oilfield in the south after "infiltrating" the border.
An oilfield in Iraq, similar to the fields in the disputed border area
Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said his country viewed the alleged Iranian incursion into the Fakka oilfield and the area known as 'Well Number Four' as a violation of its sovereignty.
He added that Iraq is seeking a peaceful, diplomatic solution to the situation.
Earlier, Iraq's deputy interior minister Ahmed Ali al-Khafaji said a group of 11 men had raised an Iranian flag and remained at the site.
Iraq has not begun military action in response and its forces are waiting for orders, he added.
Iran has denied the incursion into Iraqi territory.
A spokesman for the US military confirmed the soldiers had taken control of the oil well but added it was in "disputed territory" near the border and happened fairly frequently.
"There has been no violence related to this incident and we trust this will be resolved through peaceful diplomacy between the governments of Iraq and Iran," he said.
Another American official, Colonel Peter Newell, said: "What happens is, periodically, about every three or four months, the oil ministry guys from Iraq will go... to fix something or do some maintenance.
"They'll paint it in Iraqi colours and throw an Iraqi flag up.
"They'll hang out there for a while, until they get tired, and as soon as they go away, the Iranians come down the hill and paint it Iranian colours and raise an Iranian flag.
"It happened about three months ago and it will probably happen again."
Sky News' foreign affairs editor Tim Marshall said the incident was a sign of Iran "clearly pushing".
"Its all a bit mysterious but the most likely explanation is that Tehran is sending a message to the world - well to the Israelis and Americans: 'Don't even think of attacking us, you know what might happen if you do'," he explained.
Well 4 is one of five in the Fakka Field, which is estimated to hold 1.55 million barrels of reserve oil. It is 500m from the Iranian border.
Mods: Please correct the title "Iraq tells Iran"
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