Jordan, Turkey close borders with Iraq

Jordan on Thursday morning closed its eastern border with Iraq, only permitting the entry of diplomats to its territory, SANA reported.

The Jordanian measure aims at facing the possibility of the flow of refugees to Jordan following the US-British attacks against Baghdad.

The Jordanian Minister of the Interior said on Thursday that Jordan's government instructed the authorities at the border point to permit only the entry of diplomats who are on their way to Amman and to halt the entry or exit of any other person.

He explained that the border authorities on Wednesday permitted the entry of certain diplomats and UN cadres. He noted that these prevention measures aim at preventing any possible flow of refugees towards Jordan.

SANA reported that Jordanian eyewitnesses and officials said that borders with Iraq are still open to the movement of travelers despite the US-British attack against Iraq.

Jordanian officials said that units of the Jordanian army in the border were put on alert and that the security presence was reinforced at al-Karama border point. A Jordanian security source said the police reinforced security around the Western embassies in Amman as a "reserve measure."

Meanwhile, a Turkish official source said on Thursday that Turkey closed in a unilateral measure and for an unknown length of time the al-Kahbour border center with Iraq following the British and American air raids against Baghdad.

Mustafa Demeir, the deputy governor of Seiloubi district in the southeastern part of the region where the center is situated said that al-Khabour center was closed due to the air bombardment against Iraq. The Turkish official explained the drivers of Turkish trucks can return to Turkey, but they cannot head for northern Iraq.