By Aref Mohammed
BASRA, Iraq, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Dozens of angry Shi'iteMuslim workers and tribesmen stormed a Schlumberger Ltd camp at one of Iraq's main oilfields and wrecked offices earlyon Monday after accusing a foreign security adviser of insultingtheir religion, police and employees at the field said.
Oil officials and workers at the Schlumberger drilling sitein Rumaila North said the problem started when a securityadviser they identified as British asked Iraqi workers to takedown a flag and banners depicting a figure revered by Shi'ites.
Schlumberger was not immediately available for comment lateon Monday.
According to workers and officials, when the workers refusedto remove the banners, the security adviser went to do sohimself and tore one portraying Imam Hussein, whose death morethan 1,000 years ago is currently being commemorated by Shi'itesacross the world in rituals known as Ashura.
In the ensuing row, the security adviser pulled out a gunand fired several shots, wounding an Iraqi worker and drawingdozens of people from a nearby village to join the workers instorming the Schlumberger drilling camp.
Officials of the state-run Southern Oil Company saidproduction from the field was not affected by the incident, butoil officials said Schlumberger had suspended its operations inresponse, not only in Rumaila but at the other oilfields inBasra province.
"We received an order from the main administration to stopwork until further notice," said an Iraqi engineer working at a Schlumberger project in Zubair oilfield in the south.
The protestors smashed up offices and severely beat theforeign security adviser, oil officials and workers said. Aphotograph taken by a worker at the scene showed a man withblood streaming down his face. He said it was the adviser.Security officials said the man was taken to hospital withserious injuries.
Police and the army intervened to restore order and expelledthe protesters from the site.
"We advised the British security contractor to step back andleave this issue as it is very sensitive for the workers, butinstead ... he went himself and removed the banners and tore oneof Imam Hussein," said an Iraqi worker, who witnessed theincident.
"Workers were provoked and squabbled with the British guy,but he suddenly pulled out a pistol and started shooting, andwounded one Iraqi worker," the man said.
On Saturday, an Egyptian worker hired by Baker Hughes Inc to work at a drilling rig in Rumaila removed and tore aflag also depicting a holy Shi'ite figure, prompting Iraqiauthorities to terminate his residency and expel him from thecountry, oil officials said.
The workhorse of Iraq's oil industry, Rumaila is operated by BP with China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) [CNPET.UL}.It has estimated reserves of 17 billion barrels and currentlyproduces around 1.4 million bpd, more than a third of Iraq'stotal output of over 3 million bpd.
"The workers and villagers went on a rampage. It was a fatalmistake from the foreign security guy to provoke local workers,"said an oil ministry official, who spoke on condition ofanonymity. "When you operate in a mainly Shi'ite community youhave to respect their traditions and norms: it's the A B C ofhow to work in any environment."
BP (BP.)
