An oil official told Reuters that Iraq was pumping about 500,000 barrels through the northern pipeline to Turkey's Ceyhan port this month but that fell drastically when oil was diverted for domestic use after attacks on the domestic network.

Sabotage attacks on five oil wells and a pumping station over the past three days have stopped production at the Al-Khabbaza oilfield near the northern city of Kirkuk, which feeds the main export pipeline.

Oil wells in the Al-Khabbaza oil field near the city of Kirkuk were set ablaze by four bombs that exploded on Sunday, 13 November. The explosives, believed to have been set by anti-interim government rebels, caused a fire which continues to rage, security officer for oil installations Major Hammodi Ali told AFP.

“The wells are still on fire after they were attacked by a group of 30-40 saboteurs who set up explosives in a number of oil wells to the west of Kirkuk,” Ali said.

“Four wells were set on fire and as far as we know, there are some other wells with bombs not exploded yet. This is the first time, the Al-Khabbaza oil field has been targeted since the invasion.”

Meanwhile Iraqi authorities have announced “saboteurs” have attacked and blown up a section of an oil pipeline near Kirkuk. The secondary pipeline carrying oil to refineries in the city of Baiji was bombed about 60 km west of Kirkuk, according to Iraqi police officer Sahim Mohammed.

“The attack triggered a huge blaze, but firefighters kept away because rebels had warned of dire consequences if they intervened,” he said.

The Iraqi oil ministry has confirmed and condemned both attacks.