Iraq's new government will prioritise work on new hydrocarbon legislation to reassure international oil companies and integrate oil contracts signed in Kurdistan, a government spokesman said on Monday.

"Among the next government's priorities will be to approve legislation of long-awaited oil and gas law through parliament," Ali Al Dabbagh told a conference in London.

"This will provide a legal environment that reassures IOCs (international oil companies). Such legislation should also bring oil contracts signed by the Kurdistan region in line with the central government process," he added. – Reuters