Iraq Slams Qatar Over Fugitive Vice President

Iraq described as “unacceptable” the decision by Qatar to host on its soil its fugitive Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, who is wanted in his country. Baghdad on Monday called for its hand over, said Monday Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Hussein Shahristani.

“The welcome by Qatar for a wanted person is an unacceptable act by Qatar (…) he must return to Iraq,” he said at a news conference. Hashemi arrived Sunday in Qatar from Iraqi Kurdistan.

Meanwhile, al-Shahristani accused the autonomous Kurdistan region of illegally exporting most of its oil to Iran in violation of its trade obligations.

Authorities in the region, located in northern Iraq, had suspended the day before their exports, which amount to 50,000 barrels per day, to protest dispute with Baghdad. Oil is a major source of tension between local and central government.

Most of the crude oil produced in the region smuggled across national borders, mainly to Iran. “We talked about controlling the borders with Iran and Turkey to end the smuggling of crude,” said al-Shahristani, speaking to the press.