I Guess He'll Blame Bush for This, Too??

Iraq's Government Orders Iranian Troops to Withdraw From Iraqi Oilfield

Iraq's government has ordered Iranian troops to withdraw from the oilfield which they have taken control of in southern Iraq, Reuters reported.

"Iraq demands the immediate withdrawal from well No. 4 and the Fakka oilfield, which belongs to Iraq. Iraq is looking for a peaceful and diplomatic settlement to this issue," said government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh, according to Reuters.

Iranian troops crossed into Iraqi territory Thursday and seized an oil well that lies in a disputed area along the two countries' southern border, Iraq's deputy foreign minister said Friday.

Iran denied these claims, Reuters reported.

The Iraqi official, Mohammed Haj Mahmoud, said Iranian troops seized oil well No. 4 Thursday night in the al-Fakkah oil field, located about 200 miles southeast of Baghdad. The oil field is one of Iraq's largest.

The deputy foreign minister said he did not know whether the Iranians were still in control of the oil well.

In Washington, a U.S. official said that although Iranians had crossed the border before, they had not previously ventured this far.