A second plane carrying humanitarian aid for Iraq has landed at Baghdad's international airport. They are the first planes to do so from abroad for six years.

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 fly to Iraq from the United Nations.

Santa oversees the unloading of the toys and medical supplies

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.

Iraq thanks visiting Russians for aid

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.

The Iraqi Foreign Minister, Muhammad Said al-Sahhaf, 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 was the first international aircraft to land at the civilian airport in Baghdad since 1991.

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.

Zhirinovsky waves as he gets out at Saddam's International Airport in Baghdad

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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