Some of the world's largest oil companies have pulled out...
Some of the world's largest oil companies have pulled out of a conference in Iraq on ways to exploit the country's vast reserves.
The meeting, to be hosted by the Iraqi Oil Ministry in the southern city of Basra, was slated as the first gathering of the world's energy powerbrokers to discuss how to increase production. But many guests to the pounds 2,000-a- ticket event have decided to pull out amid concerns over safety.
A spokesman for BP said: "We are not going because of the security situation."
Shell said it hadn't yet decided whether to attend. ExxonMobil refused to comment on its plans, but is understood to have decided to pull out.
Only TotalFinaElf and ChevronTexaco confirmed their attendance.
The conference, to be held on 18-19 April, was originally scheduled for March but was postponed because of security issues.
