U.S. light crude climbed 29 cents to US$43,47 (N$287) a barrel, following a string of losses last week.

Iraqi oil exports ran at a reduced 1,4 million barrels per day (bpd) yesterday, compared with two million bpd a week ago, and an Iraqi oil official said work to repair sabotaged pipelines would take five days.

Firefighters on Sunday battled to put out a blaze in the South Rumaila oilfield after spilt oil and gas from damaged pipelines ignited.

Turmoil in Iraq and frequent attacks on oil infrastructure have been a major factor in underpinning the sharp rally in crude prices this year.

-Nampa-Reuters

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