Iran finances new Iraqi airport

2005-08-03 20:34

Washington - Iraq plans to build a new airport near Najaf that will be largely financed with a low-interest loan from Iran, say reports on Wednesday.

Iraqi transport minister Salam Maliki said: "The funding will come from a soft loan from Iran, and it could open as soon as in the next four months."

He said the proposed airport would allow travellers to avoid high-risk Baghdad and would largely serve Shiite religious pilgrims travelling to and from Iran.

Maliki said: "If the security situation in Baghdad remains unstable, flights that go there could be shifted to Najaf instead."

The minister also said his office was negotiating the return of 153 civilians and military aircraft Iraq sent to Iran in the early days of the 1991 Gulf War to protect them from bombings, which Iran refused to give back.

Maliki said: "We have a good dialogue with Iran. If we can do it, we will have solved a big problem."

The deal with Iran had raised concern among Iraq's minority Sunni population.

The report quoted a Sunni politician as saying: "In general, no country gives this kind of loan without other interests".

"I think this doesn't go without something in return."

- AFP