Ministries, oil companies clear fields of mines

BAGHDAD - Clearing Iraq's oil sector is a priority in the ministry of environment's strategic plan - to be released Wednesday - to rid the country of 25 million landmines planted during the wars with Iran and after the invasion of Kuwait.

The mines and other hazards from past wars not only - and most importantly - are a deadly headache for average Iraqis and those looking to develop the land, but must be removed for investors to sink billions into Iraqi oil fields.