Iraqis face fuel crisis

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

TONY EASTLEY: Iraq may be sitting on the world's second largest reserves of oil, but that's no comfort to the nation's frustrated motorists who queue for hours for petrol every day.

Around Baghdad some of the queues snaking out of fuel stations are kilometres long and some drivers wait more than 24 hours for their precious fuel.

Privately, US officials fear the ongoing shortages could lead to unrest and already several Iraqi Police have been killed at petrol stations.

Middle East correspondent Mark Willacy reports from Baghdad.

MARK WILLACY: After sleeping and eating in his car for more than 24 hours, Ahmed has finally made it to the bowser.

But to get his rusting VW there he's had to push it along the queue for a kilometre.

AHMED: All the Iraqis need the gasoline. Sometimes I'm stopped a long time, but when I reach the gasoline station I then find I cannot capture the gasoline because maybe the electricity's stopped working, maybe the gasoline's finished and I'll go back again to the house.

MARK WILLACY: Nearby a man pulls his pillow and blanket out from his boot.

"What's our sin?" he asks.

"I've been here since 4:30 this morning and it looks like I'll be here for the night," he says. "I've been here since last night says this bus driver, but what can I do but wait?"

Waiting in the queue, frazzled motorists watch two American Apache helicopters zoom overhead.

For some here it's a poignant symbol of who they blame for the fuel shortage.

"The queue for fuel is too long, and it's crowded and messy," says this woman. "The Americans may have removed the old regime but they've done nothing to make our lives better," she says.

The Iraqi Government says there's a simple reason for the fuel crisis - constant attacks by insurgents on the country's 6 000 kilometre network of oil pipelines.

That, coupled with an influx of cheap imported cars, has created petrol queues stretching for blocks along Baghdad's streets.

But there are other theories.

More with audio links: http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2005/s1283040.htm

[Moderator]

1. Duplicate topic

This has been much discussed. This is also a raido show transcript, not a news report.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1153911