Nuri Maliki: Iraqi PM says questioning of oil minister undermines investor confidence.
Maliki mad over oil minister grilling
Iraq Prime Minister Nuri Maliki attacked lawmakers today for summoning the oil minister to discuss his distribution of the nation's oil wealth, saying this sent the wrong message to those wanting to invest in Iraq.
Iraq's government and lawmakers are divided over who has the right to authorise foreign oil deals, and parliamentarians are set to question Oil Minister Hussain Shahristani on 11 November.
The prime minister said that insurgents aimed to deter investors and weaken the government with twin suicide attacks last week, and the parliamentarians' summoning of the oil minister might also undermine investor confidence.
"(The oil ministry) signed many important contracts, which will boost Iraq's production and exporting ability," the prime minister said in a Reuters report.
"For that, evil supporters of the past regime ... and al Qaeda ... want to send a message to investors through the last bombings."
"Unfortunately, the (bombs) coincide with the calls to question the oil minister ... This questioning gives a discouraging message to the companies willing to enter Iraq's oil market. It is in harmony with the saboteurs' message."
Last week, suspected al Qaeda-linked insurgents hit the Justice Ministry and Baghdad's provincial government building killing more than 150 people.
The attack was similar to bombings in August on the foreign and finance ministries.
UK supermajor BP and China's CNPC signed Iraq's first major new oil deal since the 2003 US invasion for the giant Rumaila oilfield today.
Recent attacks dealt a blow to Maliki's Shi'ite-led government as he campaigns for re-election in a parliamentary vote in January by seeking credit for a sharp fall in violence.
Iraq is trying to attract investment, especially in its oil sector.
While attacks have fallen in the last two years, militant groups still stage spectacular strikes.
The nation of around 30 million people is on the verge of signing a raft of deals for its oilfields that could turn Iraq into the world's third largest producer.
Iran and Turkey led commercial interest at Baghdad's first international trade fair in more than six years which started at the weekend, at which the presence of 400 foreign companies showed the drop in violence has roused investors' interest.