The Iraq cabinet has said it has set a deadline for Exxon Mobil in the next few days to explain its position on oil agreements signed with the autonomous Kurdish region, which the central government considers illegal, Reuters has reported. Last November, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) had announced the signing of a deal for six exploration blocs with Exxon, which the central government said could jeopardise Exxon's contract to develop the supergiant West Qurna-1 oil field in southern Iraq. "Exxon came to Baghdad last month and asked for more time to return with a reply on Kurdish deals and the government decided to give them a final deadline," said Faisal Abdullah, a spokesman for deputy prime minister for energy Hussain al-Shahristani.