BAGHDAD, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi crude oil exports from northern oilfields to Turkish port of Ceyhan have been halted by a sabotage attack on a main pipeline in northern the country, Oil Ministry spokesman said on Sunday.

    "The crude oil exports have been stopped by a sabotage to a pipeline near the Sherqat area, some 325 km north of Baghdad," Assem Jihad told Xinhua.

    He said that the attack took place at about 8:30 p.m. on Saturday (1730 GMT) and was apparently carried out by an explosive charge near the pipeline causing a large oil spillage.

    "Teams of Iraqi technicians from the northern oil company (NOC) have gone to the site to survey the damages and to do the necessary repairs to resume the oil exports as soon as possible," Jihad said.

    Most of Iraq's crude oil exports flow through the pipeline from Kirkuk oilfields to the Turkish port of Ceyhan, which has been frequently targeted by insurgents since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.