ReutersUPDATE - Total throws gauntlet to U.S. rivals on Iraq dealsThursday February 20, 1:34 pm ETBy Emelia Sithole (Adds new analysts quote, background, closing shares) PARIS, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Oil giant TotalFinaElf (Paris:TOTF.PA - News) threw down the gauntlet on Thursday to U.S. rivals eyeing Iraq's vast reserves, saying it was confident of winning its share of deals there despite French opposition to a U.S.-led war in Iraq. The world's fifth largest oil group encouraged investors further by reaffirming its target to boost output five percent per year to 2007, in sharp contrast to bigger rivals BP (London:BP.L -...
