Four Gulf countries refuse to receive Tariq Aziz

Iraq was informed by four Gulf countries that they cannot receive Iraqi deputy prime minister Tariq Aziz as requested by Iraq.

Diplomatic sources said "the four Gulf countries (Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and Emirates) justified [their refusal] by saying that circumstances are not convenient for the visit, and it is better to postpone it till some other time in which circumstances are calmer and more convenient."

It is expected that Aziz's revised tour will include Yemen, Sudan, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania, Lebanon and Jordan.

Aziz's last tour included Morocco, Syria, Egypt, and Jordan. The political talks be held in these countries gave reason to the Iraqi leadership to quickly follow that tour with the new one.