Iraq resumes its oil exports

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Iraq reported on Wednesday the resumption of crude oil exports after a stoppage of one month in solidarity with the Palestinian uprising.

The official Iraqi News Agency quoted an Oil Ministry official as saying "tankers arriving will be loaded with crude starting Thursday."

Iraq stopped exporting its oil on April 8 to show its "condemnation of the criminal aggression of the American evil administration and the Zionist," the official agency said. Zionism refers to the movement to establish and maintain a Jewish state.

The United Nations' Office of the Iraq Program issued a report Tuesday saying that Iraq lost $1.2 billion because of its decision to halt oil exports.