Looters cause fire at Iraqi domestic pipeline

BAIJI, Iraq (Reuters) - Thieves attempting to siphon off crude caused a fire on Monday in an internal pipeline carrying oil to Iraq's Baiji refinery, the country's largest, officials said.

Looters drilling holes in the pipeline had caused leaks which appeared to be the cause of the blaze, Iraqi army officer Captain Adnan al-Qais told Reuters.

A source from Baiji refinery said the affected pipeline was used to transfer crude oil from fields in Kirkuk to the refinery in the town of Baiji, north of Baghdad.

The source said the pipeline was one of a network and it was still receiving supplies.

The fire occurred in the al-Zurban area, 10 km (7 miles) to the north of Baiji, and firefighters were seen rushing to the scene.

The Baiji refinery has been beset by problems recently.

Last week a pipeline transporting oil derivatives from Baiji to another refinery in Haditha, 250 km (150 miles) west of Baghdad, was hit by a fire. Officials again blamed leakage from holes made by people trying to steal oil.

A week earlier, a technical fault triggered a big fire which destroyed its liquefied petroleum gas unit, although production of fuel and oil derivatives was not affected.

(Reported by Sabah al-Bazy from Baiji, Writing by Ahmed Rasheed and Michael Holden)