Awwal 21, 1432, April 25, 2011, SPA -- The Iraqi oil minister says Iraq has set a January 2012 deadline to receive bids from international oil and gas companies for a fourth bidding round on its energy assets. The Oil Minister, Abdul-Karim Elaibi, says interested companies have until May 19 to prequalify to compete for 12 mainly gas-prone exploration blocks. No exact date for the bidding was given, according to a report of the Associated Press.