Union Warns Statoil to Stay Out of Iraq

The head of the Norwegian Federation of Trade Unions (LO) Roar Flaaten has demanded oil company Statoil to postpone its plans to establish an office in Iraq, according to Norwegian sources.

Mr. Flaaten says Statoil's plans to establish an office in the northern Iraqi town of Erbil shows poor judgement after the Iraqi authorities denied oil workers the right to join unions.

The union leader has asked the Norwegian Government - a Statoil majority owner - to step in and prevent the company from moving into Iraq.

Statoil says it will not postpone its plans for an office in Erbil.

Reported by staff writer