Basra could announce itself a region to secure funds

BAGHDAD - 14 October 2017: Authorities in Basra of Iraq threatened on Saturday they could announce their province a region if the central government did not refer overdue funds.

"For a long time, the government in Baghdad has not referred the financial dues to the governorate," the local council's deputy chief Walid Ketan Ketan was quoted by the Iraqi news agency as saying.

"This delay has significantly affected service and strategic projects in the already decrepit governorate," he said, adding that it will resort to announce itself a region to secure its financial dues.

He cited that revenues from the oil-rich governorate account for more than 80 percent of the country's total budget.

Iraq exports the majority of its oil through Gulf ports in the province.