June 21, 2010
Iraq blames Iran for power cuts
BAGHDAD - THE Iraqi electricity ministry said on Monday that Iran was to blame for some of the shortfall in power supply that has sparked angry demonstrations across central and southern Iraq.
It said Iran had stopped supplying Iraq's national grid with 250 megawatts it had previously been sending down a power line from the Iranian province of Kermanshah to neighbouring Diyala province, state television reported.
The television report gave no other immediate details of the supply agreement between the two countries or the reason for its suspension by Iran.
One demonstrator was killed and two were wounded on Saturday when police opened fire to disperse a violent protest over power rationing in Iraq's main southern city of Basra.
On Monday, stone-throwers injured 17 police in Nasiriyah, further north, in protest at the lack of electricity for air conditioning and refrigeration in temperatures topping 50 degrees Celsius.
-- AFP
Iraq will be linked to international system - Electricity ...
Rumor and Fact ~ PM, Maliki, sending A ministerial delegation to Basra to address Shortage of Electricity and fuel - And Speaking about Electricity ~
