Iraq accuses US, UK of obstructing contracts to modernize petroleum facilities

Iraq accused the U.S. and U.K. of obstructing 80 contracts Iraq needs to modernize its petroleum facilities.

Abd El-Wahab Ahmed, manager of South Refinery Company, said, "Representatives of the U.S. and U.K. refused to agree to these contracts whose value is $23 million and which aim at purchasing spare parts for the refineries in southern Iraq."

Meanwhile, Iraqi newspapers urged the United Nations to practice a stronger role in international policy and to be effective in confronting the U.S. for using its resolutions in an inappropriate and aggressive way.