Are Baghdad-Kurd talks on oil issues about to start again?…

Iraq's Kurdish oil leaders are in Baghdad to clear an impasse over oil control, though the national oil minister is reportedly not in town. That could be the point, since some Kurdish leaders have called for Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani to be removed from office, United Press International reports.Shahristani has confirmed attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, which began Wednesday. A U.S. State Department official is reportedly mediating.

There have also been sticking points between the KRG and Baghdad regarding the region's 2008 budget, and whether funding for the Kurd security forces should be paid for with a special budget.