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Minister Ahmad Chalabi has assumed direct control of the powerful oil
ministry as crude exports ground to a halt due to sabotage attacks and logistics
problems, officials said on Friday.
Chalabi, who has been improving his relations with Washington after falling
out with the U.S. administration, was appointed acting oil minister after the
incumbent Ibrahim Bahr al-Uloum was given leave, the officials said.
Uloum told Reuters he was "intent on resigning". Aides to Chalabi
confirmed that he had been appointed acting oil minister.
A ministry spokesman allied to Uloum said the country was facing what he called
an impending oil supply crisis. "Production in the north, centre and south
is about to suffocate," he said.
