Iraq’s oil ministry announced on 9 October that minister Hayan Abdulghani has returned to the country after a month in the US where he reportedly underwent emergency heart surgery during an official visit in mid-September (MEES, 13 September).
The announcement came three days after Mr Abdulghani’s deputy for distribution affairs, Ali Maarich, said he was officially empowered by the Iraqi cabinet to take up the minister’s day-to-day activities, including all his “administrative and financial powers in the event of his leave or absence from the ministry for any reason.” (CONTINUED - 220 WORDS)