Baghdad denies an explosion at an oil field in Karkouk
Iraq, Local, 2/26/2003

Iraq announced yesterday that an accidental fire took place yesterday in an oil field in the northern city of Karkouk, and thereby denying news which was reported by passengers of an explosion resulting from a "damaging act."

The secretary of the Iraqi ministry of information, Ode al-Ta'ei, said "what had happened was not a damaging act, nor a bomb." He explained "the reason behind the fire in one of the oil wells is ordinary. This often happened when oil fields are drilled." He stressed that the fire will be totally extinguished today.

However, citizens from Karkouk who arrived on Tuesday to Irbil said that a large explosion took place on Monday evening in an oil well in Karkouk, 300 Km to the north of Baghdad.

The commander of the border point which separates Iraq from the Kurdish self- rule area said that fire had flared after the explosion in a Benzene field to the east of Karkouk, and black smoke covered the sky of the area. Numerous citizens fled from the area following the explosion thinking war against Iraq has started.

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