Iraq Sues Kurdish Autonomous Region Over Oil Exports

Iraq's central government says it is taking legal action against the autonomous Kurdistan region, a day after the region exported oil through neighboring Turkey despite Baghdad's warning.

Iraqi media report the Oil Ministry in Baghdad saying it has filed a lawsuit against Kurdistan's government for "illegally" exporting the crude.

Oil Ministry spokesman Essam Jihad said a legal complaint had been lodged with the Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce against Kurdistan.

On May 22, Kurdistan exported 1 million barrels of crude through the Turkish port of Ceyhan. The shipment was reportedly bound to Europe.

Last year, Turkey and Kurdistan sealed an energy cooperation agreement amid protests from Baghdad.

Iraq's central government and the Kurds are locked in a long-standing row over control of oil resources in the autonomous region and sharing the revenues.
Based on reporting by dpa and Reuters