Parsons Delaware Inc., of Pasadena, California, won the fifth in a series of prime contracts awarded for Iraq reconstruction projects.

The United States has pledged 18.4 billion dollars for reconstruction in Iraq, more than one-third of the 55 billion dollars the World Bank estimates will be necessary to get the country back on its feet.

But Washington infuriated many countries last year by declaring that primary rebuilding contracts would exclude war opponents such as France and Germany. Primary contractors were free to hand out work to whomever they want.

Other prime contracts already awarded have been in the electric power, water and public works, and oil sectors.

WAR.WIRE