Al Jazeera reports that some Iraqi southern governorates will break away from the central government in Baghdad. Apparently this is why the southern Iraqi oil fields are no longer pumping oil to the southern terminal.
Ali Hamud al-Musawi, head of the Misan governorate council, told Aljazeera that the decision of Basra’s Deputy Governor al-Malki is a normal and logical reaction.
“The feelings of Iraqi southerners in particular and Iraqi in general had been despised” al-Musawi said.
“This reaction comes in response to the crimes committed against Iraqis by an illegal and unelected government, and occupation forces who claimed they came to liberate Iraq, but it turned out that they have come to kill Iraqis” he added.
Al-Musawi expressed support for what he described as “our brothers in Basra” and announced that negotiations are going on regarding the activation of the break up.
“We are discussing the decision and we will stop Misan’s oil flow, until Baghdad’s government restores its logic (common sense) and realises that millions of Iraqis care for the people of Najaf and Karbala,” al-Musawi said.
“Iyad Allawi should not expect us to support him,” he said. “We expected this government to give us justice, democracy and freedom,” he added.
Al-Musawi said the interim government did not open communication channels with Iraqis, and used force against them instead.
“We support the unity of Iraq, when there is an Iraqi government that acknowledges all people’s rights,” al-Musawi said.
“The government should not make irresponsible decisions and attack our religion” he added.
Attempts are being made to spin the oil shutoff as a precaution against saboteurs, who are invariably called “Mahdi Army militants” or “supporters of Moqtada al Sadr.”