Kurdistan has denounced Baghdad's potential deal for Kirkuk oil development with BP, and reiterated threats to stop exports over nonpayment.
A renewed eruption of violent attacks and political controversy underscore the government's unstable hold of power, days before Arab League Summit.
A year-old export agreement with Baghdad appears to be going sour, as Kurdistan demands $1 billion in backlogged payments and levies allegations of missing oil.
Overcoming resistance from companies favoring secrecy, Iraq has published the first report on its road to international transparency certification.
The top Kurdish official in the Iraqi Cabinet speaks out against his fellow ministers' hard-line stance against Exxon.
Locals near the Shell-operated Majnoon oil field staged demonstrations over unemployment, as visiting leaders from Baghdad met provincial demands for more powers and better services.
Deputy PM says ExxonMobil must soon respond to Baghdad's ultimatum and freeze deals in Kurdistan or else lose all opportunities in southern Iraq.
The fourth bidding round is now scheduled for May 30-31, as the model contract evolves and IOCs get time to respond.
Parliament committee could press for formal validation of existing oil deals with Baghdad and KRG, but efforts are being overshadowed by political crisis.
Amidst a political breakdown, DPM Shahristani is taking a larger role, and the fourth bidding round and the start-up of new export infrastructure have been set back.
