Int’l pressures hamper Basra big port – local official

BASRA / IraqiNews.com: Head of Basra investment commission on Wednesday said that there are international pressures that hinder implementing of Basra big port. “The port may change the global economic map,” Dr. Hayder Ali told IraqiNews.com news agency. “Some countries have interests in keeping Iraq’s ports undeveloped,” he said. He did not mention further details about those countries. The oil-rich city of Basra lies 590 km south of Baghdad. MH (P)/SH 1