A plane carrying a group of Syrian lawyers, which landed in Baghdad Saturday, became the latest in a long line of flights arriving in the Iraqi capital, in violation of a UN air embargo, the official INA news agency reported.
Ahmed Eido, chairman of the Union of Syrian Lawyers, led the delegation aboard the 10th flight from Damascus to Saddam International airport since the embargo was first defied in August.
To prepare for the resumption of a scheduled service, Iraqi Airways reopened its offices in Damascus on November 25 after 18 years of forced inactivity. The same day Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz landed in the Syrian capital, becoming the first Iraqi official to fly out of Baghdad since the embargo was enforced in 1990.
On Friday a plane from Beijing brought a 69-strong government delegation to Baghdad, making China the third permanent member of the UN Security Council, after Russia and France, to send a plane to Baghdad.
EgyptAir announced Tuesday it had scheduled weekly charter flights to Baghdad to start next week, after the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr.
More than 80 flights have landed in Baghdad since Saddam International reopened four months ago, as Arab countries in particular have queued up to offer their support to the Iraqi regime -- BAGHDAD (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
