Confusion over Iraqi 'oil minister'

US troops saved the ministry from looters in Baghdad

Confusion reigns over who will represent Iraq at this week's emergency meeting of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec), after a former Iraqi general declared he would attend.

The US said it does not recognise Jawdat Obeidi, who claims he is deputy governor of post-war Baghdad and leader of an Iraqi delegation to Vienna on Wednesday.

"He can't," said Barbara Bodine, the Pentagon's civil coordinator for the reconstruction of central Iraq.

"We wouldn't prevent him but I would find it odd that Opec would accept him as a representative," she said.

Iran's Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh told the Iranian press only a government recognised by the United Nations could represent Iraq at Opec.

Most wanted

Muhammad is unlikely to attend OPEC

Iraq was a founding member of Opec but has not been party to its quotas since the 1991 Gulf War, though it has sent representatives to meetings.

Last week an unnamed Opec source was quoted as inviting Saddam Hussein's oil minister Amir Rashid Muhammad.

He is on the US list of the 55 most wanted Iraqi's and thought unlikely to attend.

Iraq's acting ambassador to Austria, Khalid Shamari, has attended the past two meetings and still represents Iraqi interests in Austria.

Opec has not commented on the dispute.

Unrecognised

Mr Obeidi told Reuters he was nominated to go to Vienna by Mr Zubaidi, who claims he was elected mayor of Baghdad last week by a 22-member council of clerics, elders and academics.

"We don't really know much about him (Mr Zubaidi) except that he's declared himself mayor," said Ms Bodine.

"We don't recognise him," she added.

Mr Zubaidi claims he has close contact with the US military.

Mr Obeidi said four of Saddam Hussein's senior oil officials would accompany him.

Oil reserves

On Sunday, senior Iraqi oil ministry staff met US military officers at the ministry - one of the only government buildings to escape looting after US troops protected it when they occupied Baghdad - to discuss who should take over as oil minister.

Iraq has the second largest proven oil reserves in the world after Saudi Arabia, and the US wants production to resume to fund the reconstruction.

The emergency Opec meeting comes as the US prepares to declare the war on Iraq over and after oil prices have dropped by about 30% in the last month.

It is not clear when Iraq will resume oil exports.