Syrian rebels control most oil wells in the north

The opposition controls more than 70 percent of the oil wells in Northeastern Syria, where Al Arabiya's cameras were able to go and look around.

Fighters are patrolling the area regularly to protect the oil wells and facilities, Abu Ahmed – a commander in the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) – told Al Arabiya.

Most of the oil facilities are not working due to imposed sanctions by the international community. However, Oweinan al-Jerba – another FSA commander – said the opposition's plan was to get them working again.

"We are currently negotiating with Kurds in neighboring areas for shared control over those wells in order to get the oil production started," he told Al Arabiya.

However, the government of President Bashar al-Assad still controls the Baniyas and Tartus ports, which are a main export portal.

Even though the Syrian opposition may not be able to generate revenue, their control over the wells is sure to put pressure on the Assad regime, which has killed more than 70,000 people since the March 2011 uprising, the U.N. says.

02 Apr, 2013

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Source: http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2013/04/02/Syrian-rebels-control-most-oil-wells-in-the-north.html
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Hamas re-elects exiled leader Meshaal for a new term: official

Meshaal, 56, is a veteran politician who has been key to Hamas' attempts to break out of its political isolation following its takeover of Gaza in 2007. (AFP)

Hamas re-elected on Monday its longtime exiled leader Khaled Meshaal for a new term, officials in the Palestinian Islamic movement said from Cairo.

"The leaders of Hamas chose Meshaal," a high-ranking official told AFP via telephone from the Egyptian capital, requesting anonymity.

Hamas officials said earlier that the movement's governing shura council was poised to renew Meshaal's leadership for another four years, with one describing his re-election as "widely known."

Prior to Monday's vote, however, there had been speculation that the exiled leader would be forced aside by the movement's powerful leaders in the Gaza Strip, which it has controlled since 2007.

Meshaal himself had said last year that he would not seek a new term.

But developments in the Middle East since the Arab Spring uprisings of 2011 "pushed Hamas to choose Meshaal...who has given the movement a national face... and has good relations in the Arab world," one Hamas official said Monday.

Meshaal, 56, is a veteran politician with close ties to regional powers Qatar, Egypt and Turkey. He has been key to Hamas' attempts to break out of its political isolation following its  takeover of Gaza in 2007.

Two Hamas officials said Meshaal ran unopposed and was re-elected by a majority in the movement's Shura Council, which is believed to have about 60 members.

Hamas began holding internal elections a year ago, a secretive process spread over several countries, shrouded in mystery and beset by logistics problems.

Hamas has four components - activists in Gaza, in the West Bank, in exile and those imprisoned by Israel. Each of the four groups chooses local leaders as well as delegates to the Shura Council. This council selects a decision-making political bureau and the head of that body - the stage that was wrapped up in Cairo on Monday.

Meshaal became head of the movement in 1996 and will now lead it for another four years.

He is seen as a member of the more pragmatic wing of Hamas, in connection with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
 

02 Apr, 2013

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Source: http://english.alarabiya.net/en/2013/04/02/Hamas-re-elects-exiled-leader-Meshaal-for-a-new-term-official.html
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Gunmen attack Iraq's Akkas gas field, four workers killed

Iraq, which holds the world's 10th largest gas reserves, has said the priority for the Akkas field would be domestic consumption once it starts production. (AFP)

Gunmen attacked a contracting company working in the huge Akkas gas field in Iraq's western desert on Monday, killing three local workers and kidnapping at least two more, local government officials said.

Akkas, operated by Korea Gas Company in Anbar province near the Syrian border, is not yet producing gas. But the attack is another indication of increased insurgent activity near the frontier as Syria's war spills into Iraq.

"A group of gunmen in vehicles attacked the headquarters of a local company hired by Kogas to do work in the field," said the mayor of al Qaim town, Farhan Ftaikhan. "They killed an engineer and two workers and kidnapped two more. Before they left they set fire to vehicles and offices."

No group claimed responsibility for the late-night attack, but security officials say the local wing of al Qaeda, the Islamic State of Iraq, is regaining ground in the remote hills, caves and villages along the Syrian border.

Al Qaeda in Iraq is linked to Sunni Islamists fighting in neighboring Syria and has been invigorated by arms, fighters and support flowing to rebels battling against President Bashar al-Assad across the border.

Iraq, which holds the world's 10th largest gas reserves, has said the priority for the Akkas field would be domestic consumption once it starts production.

The OPEC member signed a final deal for the field, which has reserves of 5.6 trillion cubic feet, in October 2011 after months of delays because of disagreements between Baghdad and provincial officials in Anbar over terms.
 

02 Apr, 2013

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Source: http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/2013/04/02/Gunmen-attack-Iraq-s-Akkas-gas-field-four-workers-killed.html
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