Iraq's oil minister says improved security has allowed the country to boost its oil production _ which only now has attained at pre-war levels again.
Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani says the increase has enabled Iraq to earn nearly US$28.5 billion in revenues in the first five months of this year.
Production last month hit the pre-war level of 2.5 million barrels a day. And al-Shahristani told parliament that in the coming five years, Iraq should be able to produce between 4 and 4.5 million barrels a day.
Security in the oil producing areas of southern Iraq has improved since the government launched a crackdown on Shiite militias in late March.
