BAGHDAD, May 11 (Reuters) - The Iraqi Oil Ministry still considers contracts signed by the largely autonomous Kurdish region with foreign oil firms illegal, despite news this week it would allow exports from Kurdish fields through a national pipeline, a senior official said on Monday.
"The Oil Ministry's position has not changed regarding the contracts signed by the Kurdish regional government with the foreign oil companies. Approving the Kurds to export does not mean approving the contracts they have signed," ministry spokesman Asim Jihad told Reuters. (Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed; writing by Missy Ryan)