Kuwait dismisses threat

Work on port progresses

KUWAIT CITY, Feb 25: Commenting on the threats issued by the so-called Hezbollah of Iraq, Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it does not pay attention to such threats, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily.

A senior ministry official was commenting on an interview given by the leader of Iraqi Hezbollah and founder of the Mukhtar Army of Iraq Watheq AlBattat to Al-Hayat newspaper.

He was quoted as saying the Iraqi Hezbollah will launch rocket attacks on the Mubarak Al-Kabir Port if work is not stopped on its construction. The port is being built on Kuwait’s Boubiyan Island.

The official said such threats do not represent the official Iraqi view. However, he added, “We do not want to spoil our national days celebrations.”

Nonetheless, the official said the Iraqi authorities will be notified on such statements which are being issued from time to time.

Al-Battat, has threatened to shell the construction site as “we have done earlier.” He also accused Kuwait of ‘grabbing’ thousands of acres of fertile Iraqi territory and said it must be returned “or we will take it by force.”

Meanwhile the Al-Anba daily quoting a senior military source said work on the Mubarak Al-Kabir Port is progressing according to schedule with the consent of higher authorities in both countries — Kuwait and Iraq — since this issue has been resolved by both sides.

The source added the threats from Iraqi Hezbollah do not feed the hungry mouths.

In the meantime, an official at the Ministry of Public Works has confirmed that work on the Mubarak Al-Kabir Port continues unhindered.

However, the official said, completion of the work varies from one phase to another since the project is huge.

The source added: “We have not heard of any allegations or threats from some Iraqi parties and groups.”