“Disaster facing power network as contractors pull out…

Vital reconstruction work in Iraq has almost completely ground to a halt after being ‘screwed up’ by the deteriorating security situation in the country, senior coalition officials have told the Guardian.

Unless the situation improves dramatically in the next few weeks, essential work on the electricity network will not be complete before the extreme heat of the summer arrives, raising the prospect of months of power cuts similar to those that led to riots and widespread discontent last year, the officials warned.”