Baghdad, May 03: US authorities today announced a new top management team to run the Iraqi oil ministry headed by an Iraqi and an advisory board headed by an American. Thamir Ghadhban, the ministry's director of planning before the war, had agreed to become chief executive officer of an interim management team, said a statement from Tim Cross, a deputy to retired US General Jay Garner, head of the office of construction and humanitarian assistance in post-war Iraq.

"After extensive consultations and on the advice of the executive committee of the oil advisory board, we are pleased to announce that Thamir Ghadhban had agreed to accept the position of chief executive officer of the interim management team for the Iraqi oil sector. "We are also pleased to announce the formation of an advisory board for the oil sector with Philip Carroll and Fadhel Othman in the position of chairman and vice-chairman. Carroll is a former president and CEO of Shell Oil and former CEO of engineering and construction company Fluor."

"Othman served formerly as the chairman if Iraq's state oil marketing organisation and in positions in the Iraqi oil ministry." Othman left Iraq in the 1980's and has lived in Turkey.

The statement was issued after a meeting between Cross and oil ministry officials.

Bureau Report