Iraqi activity to lift sanctions

The Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz will fly today to France within a European tour that includes France, Italy and Spain. Aziz's visit comes within Iraq's campaign to gather support for its position, calling for the lifting of economic sanctions imposed on it.

Ambassador Nabil Negem, Iraq's ambassador in Cairo, said today that Aziz will hold talks today with French President Jacques Chirac to clarify Iraq's position toward the sanctions and the international inspection committee, as well as the importance of France's working on lifting the measures.

Negem said that Iraq's Foreign Minister al-Sahaf will travel tomorrow to the African continent for a visit that includes 3 countries, whose names were not specified, coming after he met with the Jordanian monarch, King Hussein.