800 Iranians cross border passage into Iraq

Iraqi diplomatic sources said yesterday that the only working border passage between Iran and Iraq has been opened since last Sunday nearly a year after its closure to allow Iranian pilgrims to pass.

The informational attache in the Iraq embassy in Teheran, Riyadh Gawad, said that nearly 800 Iranian pilgrims crossed the borders on last Sunday from Khesrowi city to visit the Shiite holy places in Iraq, adding that reopening the border passage took place in positive atmospheres.

The Iraqi diplomat expected that more than 3,000 Iranian pilgrims may cross weekly to visit Najaf, Karbelaa and El-Sameraa cities in southern Iraq and El-Kazemia in Baghdad.