Rights center questions Oil Ministry's response to gasoline shortages

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Nakhil Center for Human Rights and Press Freedoms said Tuesday that the Oil Ministry’s statements on gasoline shortages in some Iraqi cities contained contradictions. The center pointed to long lines and the closure of some stations after fuel ran out, saying the ministry first denied a crisis and later cited daily production and consumption figures. The center said the gap between production and consumption reached 6 million liters a day, while the ministry said the shortfall was 4 million liters. It also questioned why the strategic gasoline reserve was not used and why Iraq turned to importing 5 million liters of gasoline. An Oil Ministry spokesman said in a statement on Monday that congestion in Baghdad and some other cities was caused by the Eid al-Adha holiday, high temperatures and increased travel. Requests for further comment from the ministry had not been answered by the time the story was prepared.