The United States cannot guarantee a role for Russian oil companies in postwar Iraq, Interfax quoted U.S. Ambassador to Russia Alexander Vershbow as saying on 27 March.

Vershbow said that the future government of Iraq, which is yet to be formed, will make decisions about such matters.

He emphasized that Iraq's oil wealth is an important tool for that country's reconstruction and development and that the United States has no intention of establishing control over Iraq's oil resources, which should be used for the benefit of the Iraqi people.

(RFE/RL 28.iii.03)