A view taken November 13, 2009, of the U [Getty Images]

A view taken November 13, 2009, of the Umm al-Qasr port terminal, 40 kms south of the city of Basra where commercial ships from around the world dock with their goods. The port of Umm al-Qasr was developed in the 1960's with different other ports springing up over the years such as Khor al-Zubair, Abu Flus, and platforms for the loading of Iraqi oil. The Iraqi government is planning to develop it's southern ports to challenge those of neighboring Gulf states. AFP PHOTO / ESSAM AL-SUDANI (Photo credit should read ESSAM AL-SUDANI/AFP/Getty Images)

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