Baghdad, June 2 (IANS): The Iraqi government Sunday warned international oil companies of buying cargo of crude oil exported from Iraq's Kurdistan region, confirming that it will take legal action against any buyer for the "stolen and smuggled" oil.
"The ministry of oil confirms its warning to the world companies and markets not to buy the oil cargo on the vessel ( United Leadership), which is loaded with crude oil extracted from the oilfields of Kurdistan region," Xinhua quoted the ministry as saying in a statement.
The ministry considered the oil cargo as "stolen and smuggled oil" which illegally crossed the border, without the permission of Iraq's federal government and its ministry of oil, the statement added.