Iraq and Syria enemies no more?

Relations between once-bitter rivals president Hafez Assad of Syria and his Iraqi counterpart Saddam Hussein were showing signs of improvement in Baghdad on July 28.

Syrian cars driving through the streets of the Iraqi capital, businessmen from Syria in the lobbies of Baghdad hotels, and goods from Damascus on sale in shops are also becoming commonplace.

Posters of Saddam Hussein Iraqi president and Al Assad the Syrian president appeared at the exhibition of Syrian goods that opened on July 27 in tBaghdad's international fair. Mohammed Mahdi Saleh ,the Iraqi minister of commerce, said that there is another Syrian trade delegation due in Baghdad at the start of August to discuss food contracts, following visit by Syrian businessmen in May. Iraqi authorities have opened the doors to all Syrian businessmen who want to come to Iraq.

In the shops, meanwhile, Iraqi shoppers can now pick up soap, fruit juice or any other kind of food from Syria.

Foreign Minister Mohammed Said Al Sahaf of Iraq has backed a normalization of relations with Syria.

But Syria has said it is to early for a political relationship.