With new grip on oil fields, Iraq Kurds unveil plan to ramp up exports

ARBIL Iraq (Reuters) - Iraq's self-ruling Kurds outlined plans on Wednesday to swiftly ramp up oil exports now that their forces have taken control of Iraq's main northern oilfields, a move that could tear up the settlement holding Iraq together since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

Kurdish Natural Resources Minister Ashti Hawrami told Reuters the Kurds had plans to increase their exports eightfold by the end of 2015, including by pumping oil from the fields taken by Kurdish fighters two weeks ago.