Iraqi president to travel to Paris, Peking and Moscow next year

Iraqi president Saddam Hussein is expected to travel next year to France, China and Russia, according to Arab weekly "Al Moharrer News."

The weekly said Saddam Hussein would "thank" these three countries for their "honorable stand during the tragedy of the Iraqi people" and to renew bilateral cooperation agreements existing between Iraq and the three countries, Map reported.

Quoting "Iraqi political sources in Athena," the paper said this trip might take place at the beginning of next year.

This would be Hussein's first trip abroad since the Gulf War.

"Al Moharrer News," published in London and distributed in several Arab countries, also reports that the Iraqi parliament will meet shortly to proclaim the cancellation of the exclusion areas, controlled by the American, French and British armies.