Iraq moves to destroy wells

IRAQ has placed explosives at the Kirkuk oil fields in northern Iraq to prevent them from being taken over in the event of a US invasion, US officials said yesterday.

"There are indications that has taken place," one official said, adding that the movement had occurred "recently".

Iraqis had also been seen moving explosives toward oil fields in the south as well as the north, a defence official said. "That makes us suspicious of their intentions.