Baghdad, Mar 25: Iraq today called on Arab countries to refuse to produce any extra oil, urging them to make the war to depose Saddam Hussein expensive for the United States and its allies.
Oil Minister Amer Mohammad Rashid, addressing reporters on a visit to the al-Dawra refinery west of Baghdad, called the five-day-old offensive by the United States and Britain "a crime against the Iraqi people."
"Oil-producing countries, especially Arabs, should not be increasing their production. This is the least thing to do to make the cost high for the Americans," Rashid said.
OPEC secretary-general Alvaro Silva Calderon had said Thursday that the oil cartel would make up any shortage of oil caused by the Iraq war.
Oil prices have fallen back from about 35 dollars a barrel two weeks ago, when uncertainty about the war was high, to within the 22-28 dollars a barrel band that is the OPEC target.
Rashid said Iraq was still exporting oil, but he declined to say how much. Last week the United Nations suspended the "oil-for-food" programme that allowed Iraq to export about two million barrels a day under close supervision.
"We have not stopped oil exports; the secretary general (Kofi Annan) has stopped the programme and withdrawn the oil inspectors," Rashid said.
He said Baghdad was committed to meeting domestic demand.
"We are providing oil products to our people," Rashid said.
Bureau Report
