Iraqi optimism towards POW's case with Iran

An Iraqi official source told ArabicNews.com that the problem of prisoners of war between Iran and Iraq could be solved during this year if the exchange process started by Baghdad and Tehran continued with the same zeal.

The source said that the Iranian and Iraqi sides will meet during the coming days near the two countries' border to hold preliminary negotiations to be continued in Baghdad during the current month to make new consultations.

The International Committee of the Red Cross supervised exchanges of captives between Iran and Iraq earlier this month, which included 5584 war captives and 316 Iranian detainees.

The international committee said that most of those released had been held for more than 15 years.