In a fresh escalation of verbal attacks, an Iraqi official has accused Kuwait of violating its border and stealing its oil wealth.
Kuwaiti Oil Minister Sheikh Ahmed Al-Abdullah denied absolutely Iraqi allegations that Kuwaiti workers have entered the Iraqi territory near Safwan with equipment to extract Iraqi crude.
Kuwaiti government sources were quoted as saying that "Kuwait has been consistent in dealing calmly with the Iraqi portfolio," but expressed their regrets concerning the hostile Iraqi position which seeks to aggravate their relationships and push them toward "escalation and counter-escalation."
Iraq is demanding that Kuwait drop further reparation claims against it, which Kuwait has declined to do.
Source: Al-Qabas, Kuwait, June 11, 2009
