Blast Reported at Northern Iraq Pipeline

BAGHDAD, Iraq – An explosion along the main oil pipeline from Iraq (search) to Turkey triggered a large fire early Thursday near the northern Iraqi town of Bayji (search), witnesses said.

The explosion occurred about dawn just north of Bayji, about 120 miles north of Baghdad (search), the witnesses said. The cause of the blast could not be immediately determined and the extent of damage was unclear.

Witnesses said vehicles of the Iraqi oil ministry had rushed to the scene.