No surprise: Oil-rich Iraqi region may seek autonomy

[directfiesta]

Said so a while ago : country will be split up ....

Southern provinces clamor for attention.

Related story on Page 3A
Published Saturday, October 2, 2004

BASRA, Iraq (AP) - Three southern Iraqi provinces, which lie atop more than 80 percent of Iraq?s huge oil reserves, are considering setting up an autonomous region, saying the area is being marginalized by the central government, officials said yesterday.

The issue was raised this week during a visit by Vice President Rowsch Shaways, who invited members of city councils in the southern provinces of Basra, Missan and Dhiqar to visit three northern Kurdish provinces that secured autonomy after the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

But no formal demand or blueprint has yet been put forth.

Walid Ghaitan, Basra?s representative on the National Council, said the city and the southern region were not fairly represented in Baghdad. The National Council is serving as a watchdog for the interim central government until elections are held in January.

"Is it fair for a city like Basra with 3 million people to only have one representative on the National Council?" Ghaitan asked. "Isn?t this enough to call for federalism?"

An autonomous south could harm Iraq?s economy because most of Iraq?s oil reserves are in the region. Oil is the main source of funds urgently needed for reconstruction of the country.

Iraq has the world?s second-largest oil reserves - 112 billion barrels - smaller only than Saudi Arabia?s.

The quest for federalism, first reported by the Financial Times, also might lead to a much-feared fragmentation of Iraq, with its multiple rivalries among ethnic, religious and tribal groups.

"We are for the idea that the states and cities of the south become a federal union because Basra and the south in general have been isolated from central decision-making," said Salem al-Taqi, a member of the Basra City Council. "This is what makes a large number of Iraqis call for federalism."

Army Brig. Gen. Ali Thani, a politician without party affiliations, said he too supports federalism.

"Our ambition is that Basra and the southern cities of Nasiriyah and Amara become a federal unity with an administration, economic and independent authority," he said.

"This is a legitimate demand for Iraqis who previously suffered from injustice," he said, referring to repression of Iraq?s Shiite majority by the fallen regime of Saddam Hussein.

The Shiites, who make up about 60 percent of the country?s 25 million people, are concentrated in the south.

The invitation by Shaways to visit Kurdish areas was welcomed by members of the Basra City Council.

Since Saddam was deposed by the U.S.-led invasion in April 2003, the three Kurdish provinces have been living in relative peace, a sharp contrast to the violence in much of Iraq.