ISTANBUL, Aug 17 (Reuters) - The flow in an Iraqi pipeline carrying Kurdish and Kirkuk crude oil to Turkey's southern port of Ceyhan has been suspended after a theft attempt on the pipeline, energy officials and a shipping agent said on Monday.

The flow was expected to resume 'in a few hours', one energy official said. The oil flow was halted for about a week earlier this month when the pipeline was attacked by Kurdish militants.

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Orhan Coskun; Editing by Daren Butler) ((humeyra.pamuk@thomsonreuters.com; +90 212 3507062; Reuters Messaging: humeyra.pamuk.reuters.com@reuters.net))