Explosion hits Iran-Turkey gas pipeline (REUTERS)

[OhioChick]

ANKARA, Sept 29 (Reuters) - An explosion at a pipeline between Iran and Turkey near the Iranian town of Bazargan has disrupted gas shipments and it was not clear if there were any casualties, an Energy Ministry official said on Friday.

The official told Reuters the explosion, which occurred at around 10 p.m. (1900 GMT) on Thursday near a Turkish border crossing into Iran, was an act of sabotage carried out by Iranians. He did not specify who was responsible.

Turkish and Iranian Kurdish rebels operate in the mountainous region, particularly from bases in Iraq.

Iran is contracted to deliver 22 billion cubic metres of natural gas per day to Turkey.
http://today.reuters.com/News/CrisesArticle.aspx?storyId=L29568393

[JCMach1]

1. PKK

again... They have been blowing lots of stuff up lately

[OhioChick]

2. Explosion on natural gas pipeline near Turkey-Iran border

ISTANBUL, Turkey An explosion ignited a fire on a natural gas pipeline near the Turkey-Iran border, shutting down the flow of gas to Turkey, local media said Friday, but there were conflicting reports about which side of the border the explosion was on.

Turkey's state-run Anatolia news agency cited the district head of the eastern Turkish city of Dogubayazit, Rauf Ulusoy, as saying the explosion occurred late Thursday night in the Iranian border city of Bazargan.

The private Dogan news agency quoted Turkish truckers as saying they could hear ambulances and fire engines going to the blast site, said to be about one kilometer (half a mile) east of the Gurbulak border crossing on the Iranian side.

Turkey's state pipeline company, Botas, also said the explosion occurred in Iran. Officials from the company told Anatolia that gas flow from Iran to Turkey had stopped and would likely be out for three to four days, but they did not expect shortages.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/09/29/europe/EU_GEN_Turkey_Iran_Pipeline_Explosion.php

[SpiralHawk]

3. "Nothing to worry about. It's time for another vacation." - Commander AWOL

"I'm going back out to the Imperial Pig Farm Upon Crawford, where I can count my Massive Republicon Oil-Crony Profits in peace and quiet, so don't let this little explosion trouble you." - Commander AWOL