| Iraq appears to have placed explosives at the Kirkuk oil fields in northern Iraq to destroy them if a U.S. invasion occurs, U.S. officials said on Monday.
"There are indications that has taken place," one official said in response to a question whether explosives had been placed in the oil field.
The official, who did not reveal the source of the intelligence, added this had occurred "recently."
In Baghdad, an oil ministry official denied Iraq has placed explosives at the Kirkuk fields.
"Iraq is keen to defend its oil wells and it is illogical that we burn our oil wells with our own hands," Oil Undersecretary Hussein Suleiman Al-Hadithi told Reuters.
A U.S. defense official said the Iraqis had also been seen moving explosives toward oil fields in the south as well as the north in the oil fields. "They have moved explosives that make us suspicious of their intentions," the defense official said.
The United States has been building forces in the Gulf region for a possible war against Iraq over its weapons program. Officials have repeatedly accused the Iraqis of planning a "scorched earth" campaign without showing how they know Baghdad's intentions.
Iraq set fire to oil fields in Kuwait as it was driven out of the country by a U.S.-led coalition in 1991.
"We certainly have very serious concerns about Saddam Hussein setting fire to the oil fields," another senior U.S. official said.
Source: Reuters | |
