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| Iraq |
| Iraq asks Kuwait to drop legal action against airline |
| 2010-04-30 |
| BAGHDAD - Iraq called on Kuwait on Thursday to halt legal action against Iraqi Airways following Kuwaiti attempts to seize one of the carrier's planes in London in the latest row between the neighbouring countries. A lawyer for the Kuwaiti authorities obtained a British High Court order to prevent the director general of Iraqi Airways, who is currently in London, from travelling and seized his passport, Iraq's transport ministry said in a statement. Baghdad and Kuwait have been locked in a long-running dispute over billions of dollars in reparations from Iraq, including about $1.2 billion related to aircraft and parts that were seized during former dictator Saddam Hussein's 1990-91 invasion to Kuwait. The dispute is between Kuwait Airways Corp and Iraqi Airways, both of which are state owned. Iraqi Airways made its first commercial flight on Sunday after 20 years, flying into London. Once the plane landed at Gatwick airport in London, a lawyer for the Kuwaiti authorities tried to seize the plane, but failed because it was leased from a Swedish firm, the ministry said in the statement. “The ministry is surprised at these provocative acts by the Kuwaiti authorities... whenever Iraqis are trying to open a new window to the world,' the transport ministry said. “We urge our Arab brothers to pressure the Kuwaitis to stop such behaviour, which does not help both sides to forget the past and open a new page in bilateral relations.' |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #1 We urge our Arab brothers to pressure the Kuwaitis to stop such behaviour Now they are brothers. What were they in 1991? |
| Posted by: gorb 2010-04-30 00:35 |