Iraqi ambassador in Tehran submits his credentials

Iraq's ambassador in Tehran Muhammad Miguid al-Sheikh assumed the mission of his post on Saturday, for the first time since the eruption of the Iraqi- Iranian war in 1980.

Al-Sheikh submitted his credentials to the Iranian foreign minister Kamal Kharazi and the Iranian official news agency said that al-Sheikh, a member in the " higher council for the Islamic revolution in Iraq," replaces the charge de affairs Khalil Salman al-Subeihi.

Al-Sheikh assumed the office of the historical leader Ayatullah Baqer al-Hakim who was killed in Najaf on August 29, 2003 three and a half months from his return back to Iraq from his exile in Iran where he had spent 22 years.

Al-Sheikh talked before Kharazi about " political, historical and cultural closeness" between the two countries, stressing the need of "using this closeness to overcome the bitterness of the past." It is not known when Iran will appoint an ambassador for itself in Baghdad.