Gas pipeline hit in Kirkuk, two bodies of Iraqi contractors found

http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=37884

KIRKUK, Iraq, March 2 (AFP) - A blast hit a gas pipeline west of Kirkuk on Wednesday, an oil company official said, as security forces in the oil rich northern city said they found the bodies of two Iraqi contractors.

The attack on the pipeline happened at about 10:00 pm (1900 GMT) near the town of Al-Safra, 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Kirkuk, an official with the Northern Oil Company told AFP.

There were no immediate details on what caused the explosion but fires could be seen raging from the scene of the attack.

The pipeline connects to the major refining and power plant complex at Baiji.

Oil infrastructure in and around Kirkuk is the frequent target of sabotage and oil exports from the region through the Turkish port of Ceyhan are virtually nonexistent after several failed attempts to get them going.