Iraq says “No,” again, to Lukoil deal … Smuggling Iraq’s fortunes … The Turkish Invasion

An oil deal signed between Russian oil giant Lukoil and Saddam Hussein has long been relegated as null and void by Iraq’s Oil Ministry. It’s for a major oil field, with 11 billion barrels, but Iraq says Saddam cancelled it and would not uphold or renegotiated any deals that weren’t active at the time of the regime’s overthrow.

Lukoil claims otherwise and is contemplating international courts to challenge it.
Andrew E. Kramer and James Glantz report in The New York Times Russia may also …