Iraqi PM declares fuel crisis over as pipeline blast kills looters

[Barrett808]

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraq's prime minister declared that a four-month-old fuel shortage was over, on the same day 36 people were killed when a disused pipeline exploded as they attempted to siphon off fuel.

"We have controlled the fuel crisis in the country through immediate tactical solutions and putting in place a strategic plan to end the crisis for good," Nuri al-Maliki told reporters at the oil ministry in Baghdad.

Iraq is home to some of the world's largest reserves of untapped crude oil, but in the chaos following the 2003 overthrow of Saddam Hussein its ageing and infrastructure has struggled to keep up with domestic demand for refined fuel.

Long petrol queues are a constant feature of life in Baghdad and are themselves vulnerable to sectarian bomb attacks on civilians.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060829/wl_mideast_afp/iraqpoliticsoil

[Newsjock]

1. Why does AFP hate America?

Such negativity! They easily could have mentioned all the Iraqis who didn't die today while siphoning gas from a pipeline. But nooooo.

[warrens]

2. On another note, we have banned summer as well

That will save our citizens enormous amounts of money paying for air conditioning. If they had power to run an air conditioner, that is.

[Barrett808]

3. Taking a page from Bush's "black is white" PR strategy. n/t