Will Saddam Hussein's Advisor Take Part in OPEC Conference?

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has invited Iraqi Oil Minister Amir Rashid Muhammad al-Ubaydi, Saddam Hussein's energy advisor, to take part in the 125th extraordinary OPEC Vienna conference opening on April 24, a high-ranking source in the General Secretariat of the world oil cartel told RIA Novosti.

According to the source, Rashid will represent Iraq as an OPEC member-state and not the former government of Saddam Hussein.

On the other hand, Rashid is unlikely to come to the OPEC summit in Vienna, as he was blacklisted as one of Saddam's cronies and is wanted by the US authorities.

The source refused to say who sent the invitation to the OPEC conference to Rashid and where it was sent. It is also unknown who will represent Iraq at the forum if the former oil minister does not come to Vienna.

Acting Iraqi representative at the OPEC General Secretariat Khalid al-Shamari is likely to substitute Rashid.