Iraq oil ministry appoints new spokesman

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraqi Oil Minister Basim al-Abbadi on Wednesday appointed a new official spokesman for the ministry, according to a ministry order. The order named Selim Farhud Hussein, director of the Department of Economic Studies, as the ministry’s official spokesman. He replaces Sahib Buzun, who was removed from the post. The written order said the appointment was made with the minister’s signature. A source close to the ministry had earlier said Buzun had been dismissed and that a replacement had been chosen. That source said the decision followed repeated failures in press statements, pointing in particular to recent comments about a gasoline shortage. Buzun had previously said there was no crisis involving regular or high-octane gasoline in the country and that supplies were available.