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Middle East
Iraq's oil wealth eludes the poor
Ordinary Iraqis say benefits of billion-dollar oil deals not reaching them.
Last Modified: 04 Nov 2009 16:46 GMT



The Iraqi government has been busy signing a series of billion-dollar deals with major international oil companies who are attempting to gain access to Iraq's vast oil wells.

But in poverty-stricken areas of the oil-rich southern city of Basra, residents say they have not seen any of the wealth generated by the deals.

Instead, they have complained of widespread unemployment, frequent power outages and wells filled with septic water.

Owen Fay reports.

Source:
Al Jazeera
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