There is no obstacle in front of the Jordanian prime minister's visit to Iraq

Taleb El-Refaei, the Jordanian information minister assured yesterday that "there is no obstacle preventing the prime minister Ali Abu El-Ragheb from paying an official visit to Iraq whenever he wants."

El-Refaei added in reply to news that the prime minister intends to head to Baghdad soon in the first visit by such high ranking Jordanian official since nearly 10 years - is limited to its usefulness.

Sources in the Jordanian government said that Abu Ragheb intends visiting Baghdad as soon as possible, probably before the end of September, saying that Abu El-Ragheb visited Iraq days before being appointed as the prime minister in last June.

Jordan seeks getting the consent of U.N on a Jordanian request for resuming air trips to Iraq which has been under an international air embargo since 1990.