Pirate protest at BP headquarters over Iraq oil 'grab'

PROTESTERS dressed as pirates will picket the offices of BP today, to highlight what they claim is the oil giant's attempt to control the production of Iraq's oil reserves.

The demonstration at BP's London offices during its annual meeting follows the firm's involvement in negotiations over a contract to develop Rumaila, Iraq's largest production field.

Campaigners from the Hands Off Iraqi Oil have warned that the country will lose billions in income if it signs up to the multi-national's preferred contracts.

They have accused the UK and US governments of colluding with oil giants to pass Iraq's hydrocarbon law, which gives firms 30-year rights to control the extraction and development of oil, which has been in Iraq's public sector since the 1970s.

Jonathan Stevenson, from Iraq Occupation Focus, said: "With over 150,000 British and American troops still in Iraq, no wonder western oil firms are preparing to move in on the country's oil, despite Iraqis' opposition. We call on BP to publicly state it will not seek long-term rights to the oil while foreign troops are still in Iraq."