Hussein Urges Oil Embargo of U.S., Israel
President Saddam Hussein renewed his call Monday for Arab producers to back an Iraqi oil embargo to protest Israeli incursions into Palestinian territory.
In a TV address, Hussein said producing countries should cut exports by half and ban all oil sales to the U.S. and Israel.
On April 8, Hussein announced a monthlong embargo on Iraqi oil sales under the U.N. oil-for-food program. The sales, about 2 million barrels daily, are allowed as an exception to sanctions in place since the 1991 Persian Gulf War.
No other oil producer has followed Iraq’s lead on an embargo. Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest exporter, has ruled out the use of oil as a weapon in the Middle East conflict. On Monday, Saudi Oil Minister Ali Ibrahim Naimi said Riyadh would be prepared to fill any Iraqi shortage.
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