Total defies Baghdad, signs with Kurdistan

France's Total has signed two deals with Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, provoking condemnation and threats from leaders in Baghdad.After buying a 35 percent interest in two exploration blocks from American firm Marathon, Total has become the third super-major to sign contracts with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), even though leaders in Baghdad say that any deal done without the approval of the central government is illegitimate."We consider Total's actions to be incor...