Jordan's premier in Iraq: 1st visit of the kind in 10 years

Jordanian prime minister, Ali Abu Ragheb, will visit shortly Iraq in the first visit to Iraq by such a high-ranking Jordanian official in 10 years.

Abu Ragheb is planning to visit Iraq the soonest, probably before end of September, an official source told AFP news agency under cover of anonymity, MAP reported.

The prime minister had visited Iraq some days before his appointment last June by King Abdallah II, said the source.

The visit will be taking place as Jordan is trying to get the United Nations green light to resume flights to Iraq, hit by a 10-year long embargo.

Amman is also trying to renew an oil agreement with Iraq, its major oil supplier.

Exceptionally, Iraq and Amman have signed an oil and trade agreement under which Jordan will export, in 2000, $ 300 million-worth of goods in exchange of 4.8 million tons of crude oil, half of which is free and the second half at preferential prices.