The Iraqi news agency says that Iran is to release three-hundred-and seventy-six prisoners of war in the next few days.

The agency said the announcement of the release came from the Iraqi deputy speaker, Ujaly Jalal Ismail, on his return from a visit to Tehran.

The prisoners have been held since the Iran-Iraq war ended in 1988.

Correspondents say Iraq is believed to have very few Iranian prisoners form that war while Iran could still have up to ten-thousand Iraqi's.

Both countries agreed last year to normalise their relations.