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Thursday, January 28, 2010     FOR YOUR EYES ONLY

Iran withdraws from disputed oil field in Iraq

BAGHDAD — After more than a month, Iran has ended a border standoff with Iraq.   

Officials said Iran has withdrawn its military forces from all Iraqi territory. They said the pullout from the disputed Fakaa oil field in eastern Iraq took place on Jan. 27.

"The Iranians returned to their original posts," Iraqi government spokesman Ali Al Dabbagh said.


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The Iranian pullout ended a six-week standoff that did not threaten to flare into violence. Officials said the Baghdad government maintained diplomatic contact with Teheran to defuse the situation and ensure an Iranian withdrawal.

Officials said the Iranian force at Fakaa never exceeded more than 30 soldiers, who at the start of the incursion raised their national flag. They said the force evacuated all four wells at Fakaa and filled up the trenches dug during the standoff. An Iranian bulldozer also removed a sand barrier near one of the wells.

Baghdad and Teheran have failed to demarcate their disputed border along Iraq's eastern Maysan province. Fakaa was drilled by Iraq during the 1970s but development was halted by the Iran-Iraq war in 1980.

Officials said Iran and Iraq were discussing a plan to demarcate their border. They said an agreement could be reached in 2010.




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