The Iraqi government issued a warning to Turkey to drop plans to trade oil with Kurdistan or face increased tensions with its neighbor. The deal would see Kurdish oil travel to Turkey in exchange for refined products that the Kurds say Baghdad is refusing to supply to them. Baghdad has claimed a right to fifty percent of profits as well as authority to deliver the oil through government pipelines.
A profit-sharing deal between Iraq and the autonomous region fell apart in April when the Kurds halted production over unpaid revenues. They also claimed that the corrupt oil ministry was helping itself to some of the oil. To strengthen its power, Baghdad has punished private companies who contracted with Kurdistan directly by refusing them national contracts.
Also of interest to Iraqi Kurds is the demand for faster arms transfers by the United States to Iraq. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki called on the U.S. to rush delivery of three-dozen F-16s, which the Kurds fear could be used against them. However, Iraq has no ability to guard its borders and needs the planes for self-defense.
Meanwhile, at least eight Iraqis were killed and 12 more were wounded in new attacks.
Gunmen killed two policemen in Tal Afar.
A bomb in Garma killed two policemen.
In Mosul, a dumped body was discovered.
A man was stabbed to death in Khalis.
A 15-year-old girl was stabbed to death in Muqdadiya.
In Anbar province, a roadside bomb killed one civilian and wounded two more.
A blast near a government employee’s home in Baquba left ten wounded, including at least four members from the same family.
