Wave of attacks halts Iraq oil exports

OIL exports from southern Iraq have been brought to a complete halt following a spate of pipeline attacks launched by insurgents trying to undermine the nation’s interim government.

Oil flows out of the southern pipelines which account for 90% of Iraq's exports ceased late Sunday and were not likely to resume for at least a week, two senior officials from South Oil Co. said on condition of anonymity.

No oil was being pumped either through Iraq's northern export lines to the Turkish port of Ceyhan, according to a Ceyhan oil official. Those lines have also been repeatedly attacked in recent months.