Saturday, February 17, 2007

Iraq to re-open borders with Iran, Syria for limited hours


Above: An Iraqi border official and his Iranian counterpart check the passports of two Iranian women at the Munthriya border crossing point

BAGHDAD, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Iraq will re-open its borders with Iran and Syria, closed earlier this week in the initial stages of a security crackdown, a spokesman for the officer overseeing the plan said on Saturday.

"Seventy-two hours have passed and the borders will gradually re-open, but it will take 60 days for the border crossings to return to normal," Brigadier Qassim Moussawi said, without specifying exactly when they would be reopened.

Moussawi said the borders would be open for a limited number of hours each day, under close scrutiny. They were closed on Wednesday.

Read the rest at Reuters/Alternet

Related Link:
Iraq closing borders with Syria, Iran 'for 72 hours', but when uncertain

Related Link:
Report: Syria tightens access for Iraq refugees under new rules

Related Link:
Tensions continue to rise as Iraq says 50% of bombers come through Syria

Related Link:
Syria rejects accusations by Iraq over refugee restrictions; Says some 'linked to Washington' trying to stir split

Related Link:
Tensions rise as Iraq blames Syria over treatment of refugees, restrictions on travel; Decries Assad meeting with al-Dhari

Related Link:
Iraq halts all flights to Syria, closes border crossing with Iran

Related Link:
Iran Closes Border Crossings With Iraq