|
Baghdad, Tehran exchange more war prisoners
Iraq-Iran, Politics, 4/7/1998
Iran yesterday released some 500 Iraqi prisoners whereas in return Iran released 23 Iranians.
The exchange process was conducted at Khaserwi border point in Karmanshah district in the presence of officials at the Red Cross international committee. Since last Thursday Baghdad and Tehran have exchanged about 4,000 prisoners according to an accord reached by the two countries' foreign ministers, Muhammad Saeed al-Sahaf and Kamal Kharazi.
Meanwhile, an official at the Iraqi Ministry of Tourism said the two countries reached an agreement providing for permitting Iranian pilgrims to visit holy shrines in Iraq.
On Sunday, Iranian TV quoted Kharazi as saying the two countries will release all war prisoners and a joint committee will determine the fate of lost prisoners.
On Saturday Tehran radio reported that another 1,500 Iraqi prisoners and 89 Iraqi prisoners were released in a third exchange operation of prisoners since Thursday on the border point in Khasrwi.
The Iranian News Agency, IRNA, said one of the released Iraqi prisoners died of a heart attack at the border.
Al-Nahar added that until now some 2,800 Iraqi prisoners and 250 Iranians were exchanged according to an accord providing for the release of 5,592 Iraqi prisoners against 380 Iranians held in Baghdad. In 1990 the two countries exchanged 70,000 prisoners.
Following the visit of the Iraqi foreign minister to Tehran in January 1998, the two countries, in an attempt to improve relations, formed committees to settle humanitarian issues, trade relations and visits of holy shrines in Iraq.
On Sunday, Kharazi said that families of the Iraqi-Iranian martyrs will have the priority to visit the holy sites in Iraq.
Previous Stories:
Iraq, Iran exchange war prisoners
(4/3/1998)
Iranian official: Our forces are on alert
(2/23/1998)
Iraqi, Iranian foreign ministers meet in Tehran
(2/18/1998)
Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.
|
Advertise on ArabicNews.com. MyFlowers.com sold more than $2700 of flowers in one month advertising on ArabicNews.com! Make your company, and products a success. Special rate for new and small business. Inquire!Advertising Info
|
