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| Iraqi cabinet backs draft oil law | Iraqi cabinet backs draft oil law |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The Iraqi government has approved an amended draft law on how to share the country's oil wealth, officials say. | The Iraqi government has approved an amended draft law on how to share the country's oil wealth, officials say. |
| Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said parliament would begin debating the bill on Wednesday. | Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said parliament would begin debating the bill on Wednesday. |
| There are no details about changes to the original draft, which Kurdish groups objected to. | There are no details about changes to the original draft, which Kurdish groups objected to. |
| Correspondents say distribution of oil revenues is a key concern for Sunni Arab groups, who live in areas which are mostly without oil reserves. | Correspondents say distribution of oil revenues is a key concern for Sunni Arab groups, who live in areas which are mostly without oil reserves. |
| The original draft, approved by the cabinet in February, stipulated that a state oil company would take control of oilfields away from regional governments. | The original draft, approved by the cabinet in February, stipulated that a state oil company would take control of oilfields away from regional governments. |
| But Kurdish organisations said such moves were unconstitutional. | But Kurdish organisations said such moves were unconstitutional. |
| The Iraqi oil industry has been stuck for the last couple of years Manoucher TakinCentre for Global Energy Studies What happened to the oil? Baghdad's petrol crisis | |
| They reached agreement with the government in June that the authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan would receive 17% of all oil revenues. | They reached agreement with the government in June that the authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan would receive 17% of all oil revenues. |
| The United States has been pressing Iraq to pass an oil law, as part of several legislative measures to promote reconciliation among Iraq's religious and ethnic groups. | The United States has been pressing Iraq to pass an oil law, as part of several legislative measures to promote reconciliation among Iraq's religious and ethnic groups. |
| Iraq's known oil reserves have been estimated at 115 billion barrels, but production has fallen since the US invasion from 3.5 million to two million. | Iraq's known oil reserves have been estimated at 115 billion barrels, but production has fallen since the US invasion from 3.5 million to two million. |
| 'Intense attack' | 'Intense attack' |
| News of the draft law came as the US military said it was investigating the alleged killing of 10 civilians in air strikes on insurgents in the southern Iraqi city of Diwaniya. | News of the draft law came as the US military said it was investigating the alleged killing of 10 civilians in air strikes on insurgents in the southern Iraqi city of Diwaniya. |
| The US said it was targeting a suspected source of mortar fire | The US said it was targeting a suspected source of mortar fire |
| F-16 fighter planes bombed a street in the city on Monday after militants reportedly fired up to 75 mortars and rockets at the Camp Echo coalition military base. | F-16 fighter planes bombed a street in the city on Monday after militants reportedly fired up to 75 mortars and rockets at the Camp Echo coalition military base. |
| "Coalition forces are reviewing the incident to ensure that appropriate and proportionate force was used in responding to the intense attack," the US military's statement said. | "Coalition forces are reviewing the incident to ensure that appropriate and proportionate force was used in responding to the intense attack," the US military's statement said. |
| Separately, the US said 23 insurgents were killed in a weekend operation in the western Anbar province. | Separately, the US said 23 insurgents were killed in a weekend operation in the western Anbar province. |
| US-led forces there said they found militants preparing for suicide attacks in the province's capital Ramadi. | US-led forces there said they found militants preparing for suicide attacks in the province's capital Ramadi. |
| Meanwhile two US pilots were slightly hurt when their helicopter was shot down by enemy fire near Baghdad. | Meanwhile two US pilots were slightly hurt when their helicopter was shot down by enemy fire near Baghdad. |
| After the incident, a US warplane destroyed the wreckage of the aircraft with two laser guided bombs. | After the incident, a US warplane destroyed the wreckage of the aircraft with two laser guided bombs. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
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