Santa Claus flies into Baghdad

A second plane carrying humanitarian aid for Iraq has landed at Baghdad.

The flight was organised by a charity in Iceland to bring in medical supplies as well as toys for children, and had received permission to land in Iraq from the United Nations.

Also on board was a Father Christmas -- a spokesman for the charity, Peace 2000, said Santa Claus was a non-political figure who could spread a message of peace to both Muslims and Christians.

On Thursday, a plane chartered by the Russian nationalist politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky arrived carrying five tonnes of medical supplies and a group of Russian politicians.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service