DUBAI, April 8: Iraqi President Saddam Hussein announced on Monday that Iraq is suspending oil exports as of noon Monday for 30 days, or until Israeli forces pull out of Palestinian territories.

The president made the announcement in a speech following a cabinet meeting.

He added that after the 30-day period “we will further decide, or until the Zionist entity’s armed forces have unconditionally withdrawn from the Palestinian territories they have occupied and have shown respect for the will of the Palestinian people and the Arab nation”.

The Iraqi president said the measure was taken only against the US and Israel “and not against anyone else”.

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, two major oil suppliers, have in the past rejected playing the oil weapon.

But Libya and Iran have called for cutting oil supplies to countries, like the United States, that support Israel.—dpa