BAGHDAD, April 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Iraqi Oil Minister Amir Mohammad
Rashid on Tuesday urged the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
(OPEC) to endorse its decision to halt oil exports in support of the
Palestinian struggle against Israel, the official Iraqi News Agency (INA)
reported.
In a letter to OPEC Secretary-General Ali Rodriguez, Rashid
informed the oil cartel of its decision and also "called on all
oilexporting countries to support Iraq's decision which was not meant to
harm anybody but to put an end to the U.S.-Zionist (Israeli) aggressions
against the Palestinian people and to oblige the Zionist forces to
withdraw from the Palestinian lands."
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein announced on Monday that Iraq
started from Monday afternoon to completely stop its oil exports for a
period of 30 days, or until Israeli armed forces have "unconditionally"
withdrawn from the Palestinian territories they have occupied and "have
shown respect for the will of the Palestinian people and the sovereignty,
security and dignity of theArab nation."
Directly or indirectly, Iraq has been among the top oil suppliers
of the U.S., though the two have been sworn enemies sincethe 1991 Gulf
War. Over 50 percent of Iraq's oil exports, which stand at 1.5 million to
2 million barrels per day, flows into the U.S. market.
The stoppage has helped propel oil prices higher, adding 1.04 U.S.
dollars at benchmark Brent to 27.03 dollars a barrel on Monday, nearly a
six-month high.
The OPEC secretary general said that he would consult with cartel
ministers to see whether there was the need to release extrasupplies to
fill the gap left by Iraq.
Saddam has called on fellow Arab and Muslim oil producers to follow
suit, but OPEC heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have rejected his call
and ruled out the use of oil as a weapon against the U.S.-led West.
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