Full Iraqi oil exports expected by the end of next week

Friday, June 18th 2004, 10:22 am

By: News On 6

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) _ Full crude oil exports are expected by the end of next week, as crews work to repair two major southern pipelines hit by insurgents, coalition officials said Friday.

The smaller of the two lines is already fixed and may be tested as early as Saturday.

``It's just a question of when (the smaller line) can be up and running,'' said Dominic d'Angelo, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition in the southern city of Basra.

He said a damage assessment is still being undertaken on the larger of the two pipelines damaged in the attacks.

He said expectations for full exports resuming were ``for the end of next week. But they could come by the middle (of the week). Wednesday is a possibility.''

The attack on the pipelines Wednesday forced Iraq to suspend all crude shipments from the Persian Gulf, depriving the country of its main source of income.

The attacks against the pipeline appear part of an insurgent campaign to undermine public support for the interim government, which takes power June 30, marking the end of the American-run occupation.