France questions proposed Iraq flight

France has expressed concern that a proposed commercial flight to Iraq from Jordan breaches United Nations sanctions.

A foreign ministry statement said the service would involve financial transactions and trade links banned under UN resolutions.

The French statement -- a day before the proposed resumption of such flights from Amman -- also called for a clarification of the rules and procedures for commercial services to Iraq.

A senior Jordanian transport official Ala Batayneh was quoted as saying today that Royal Jordanian Airliens was seeking United Nations' approval for the flight. Airline officials have said it did not represent a resumption of regular flights, but only of charters.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service