WASHINGTON, DC, United States (UPI) -- Iraq`s oil minister stunned experts this week when he said production had reached 2.86 million barrels per day -- higher than pre-war levels and above what was known as Iraq`s capacity of about 2.5 million barrels per day. Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani said production in the south -- home of Iraq`s largest known reserves -- and the north, which has been hit with violence, have improved, the Middle East North Africa Financial Network reported Wednesday, citing the Arabic Al-Sabah newspaper.
