Talabani delays his trip to Iran until Baghdad airport reopens

Aftermath of yesterday's car bombings in Baghdad. An indefinite curfew along with the closing of the country's two main airports has been declared by the government.

BAGHDAD, Iraq: President Jalal Talabani said Friday he has postponed a scheduled trip to Iran until Baghdad's airport is reopened.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the country's top officials, Talabani said he would fly as soon as the airport opens. The government closed the airport until further notice Thursday night after several explosions killed and wounded hundreds of people in Baghdad's eastern neighborhood of Sadr City.

President Bashar Assad of Syria was supposed to join Talabani and their Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad this weekend but reports from Tehran said Syria appears to be staying away from the summit.

"The Tehran visit is still on but the airport is closed. As soon as the airport opens we will leave to Tehran," Talabani said.

Read the rest at the International Herald Tribune

Related Link:
Iran invites Iraqi, Syrian presidents to Tehran