Iraq: Luaibi, Abdul-Samad and differences over Basra oil contractsnote

As the 4^th bidding round of oil service contracts is approaching, Iraqi Oil Minister Abdul-Kareem Luaibi is said to be maintaining opposition to a decision by Iraqi PM Nouri Al-Maliki to provide Basra Governor Khalaf Abdul-Samad with powers to conclude contracts for oil fields in Basra province. The following 412-word report sheds more light on the differences over this matter and tells what about the reactions of the concerned parties.