Another Iraqi oil official targeted, shot

NAJAF, Iraq, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Thursday’s assassination of a top oil official southwest of Baghdad highlights the security situation the oil sector faces, like the rest of Iraq.

Ali Abu Haydar al-Hasnawi, the director of an oil depot in Najaf, was gunned down in front of his house just days after the release of four kidnapped oil officials, including the deputy minister.

"A masked gunman opened fire against Ali Abu Haydar al-Hasnawi in front of his house in al-Jamaayat neighborhood, north of Najaf, killing him instantly," a source who spoke on condition of anonymity told the Voices of Iraq news agency.

Najaf province’s media director, Ahmed Daabil, said a curfew in the city will continue through a second day as political violence led to attacks on local offices of the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council. That is likely associated with militia-on-militia fighting in the holy Shiite city of Karbala.

"Security forces in the city also foiled an attempt by gunmen at dawn to seize al-Haydariya police station, north of Najaf," VOA’s source said. "The armed men clashed with the police forces for more than 15 minutes, and they fled only after back up arrived.”

Earlier this week four of the five Oil Ministry officials kidnapped Aug. 14 were released; the fifth was released earlier this month.

Among the kidnapped was Abdel-Jabar al-Wagaa, a deputy minister and top assistant to the oil minister, and employees of the State Oil Marketing Organization.