Iraq resolves oil sharing issue, says deputy PM

[ECH1969]

Iraq's government has resolved a dispute over the sharing of oil revenues across the country but differences remain over who will hand out lucrative oil contracts, a senior Iraqi official said on Tuesday.

Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih said the contentious issue of oil revenues was resolved during recent negotiations for a new law to regulate Iraq's oil and gas industry.

"Remarkably we have been able to settle oil revenues," said Salih in a video conference from Baghdad with reporters based in Washington.

Salih, the most senior ethnic Kurd in the cabinet, did not provide details on how oil revenues would be distributed or which areas would get the most money.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N29447012.htm