The Iraqi Foreign Minister, Muhammad Said al-Sahhaf, has thanked a group of Russian politicians for bringing a planeload of humanitarian supplies to Baghdad.

He said their arrival reflected the close ties between the Iraqi and Russian people, and hoped that more aid flights would soon be sent.

The plane, chartered by the Russian nationalist politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky, is the first international aircraft to land at the civilian airport in Baghdad in six years.

It was detained in Iran for three days until a United Nations exemption was granted. It carried five tonnes of medical supplies and gifts for Iraqi children.

The humanitarian supplies were paid for by Mr Zhirinovsky. He has made numerous publicized visits to Iraq in a show of solidarity and support for the government of the Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein.

During Mr Zhirinovsky's last visit only two weeks ago, he condemned UN and US policy towards Iraq and pledged to bring medical supplies for the country whether it was approved by the UN or not.

A BBC correspondent in Baghdad says that Russia has been opposing American condemnation of Iraq, and the flight can only reinforce the impression that Washington and Moscow remain divided on the issue.
 

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