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Iraq's oil-rich provinces mull breaking away
Three of Iraq's oil-rich southern provinces have discussed breaking away to set up an autonomous region similar to that demanded by Iraqi Kurds in the north, the Financial Times said on Thursday. The newspaper, quoting diplomats familiar with the plans, said officials from Iraq's second largest city of Basra had been holding talks with officials from councils in two neighbouring provinces — Missan and Dhiqar. The paper said the move reflected the three provinces' growing frustrations with Baghdad rule and a feeling they were being marginalised in new government institutions. There was no independent verification of the report. The newspaper said people close to the Iraqi government suspected hardline elements in Iran were encouraging the southern provinces to demand self-rule. "The south has been desperately disappointed and they see Baghdad as continuing to leave them without representation," a western diplomat told the paper. "So they are working on ways to organise themselves to have more clout with the centre." Any attempt to form a breakaway autonomous zone would meet fierce resistance from many Iraqis and could spark civil war. reutersPosted by: tipper 2004-10-01 |
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