Kuwait City, Mar 23: US and British forces have requested Kuwaiti help to extinguish some oil wells in Iraq, torched as coalition forces advanced into the country, a Kuwaiti official said in remarks published today. Oil ministry undersecretary Issa al-Oun told a Kuwaiti newspaper that the allied forces have asked for assistance in putting out fires in the southern Rumailah oil field. Oun, who did not say whether the request would be met, said the Kuwaiti oil sector is "fully prepared to carry out this mission," especially alongside foreign fire-fighting teams. But forming and organising the teams would require some time, he added.
Oun said there was a strong possibility a Kuwaiti team would participate since huge quantities of oil have already created spills, which are an environmental hazard and will affect the field's strategic reserves.
A layer of thick smoke has been seen over Kuwait every day since the oil wells were set alight.
Bureau Report