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Iraq Says Iranian Troops Withdrawn from Oil Well, Still in Iraq

   The  oil  well  is  located in a disputed border area between Iran and
   Iraq

   VOA News 20 December 2009

   Iraqi  officials say Iranian troops have withdrawn from a disputed oil
   well on their border, but remain on Iraqi territory.
   A  government  spokesman  says  the  Iranians took down their flag and
   moved  back  50  meters  from the well, but still have not returned to
   their original positions.
   Iraqi  officials say 11 Iranian soldiers seized the well (Number 4) in
   the  al-Fakkah  oil  field in Maysan province Friday, and that Iranian
   soldiers remained there Saturday.
   Iran insists the well is in Iranian territory.
   Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told Iranian state media
   that reports of an Iranian incursion were an attempt to harm relations
   between  Tehran  and  Baghdad.  He also said the two sides will seek a
   diplomatic solution.
   A joint Iraq-Iran committee is to look at demarcation of the border in
   the disputed area.
   U.S.   ambassador  to  Iraq,  Christopher  Hill,  praised  Iraqis  for
   defending themselves in the dispute, saying they were "not going to be
   pushed around" by Iran.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

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