More Russian flights to Baghdad

The Russian news agency, ITAR-TASS, says a Russian air company is to make a further humanitarian flight to the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, today Friday.

The agency quoted an official of Vuknovo Airlines as saying there would be a further two flights in the next few days -- all in line with United Nations sanctions against Iraq.

An Iraqi spokesman said the flight was the start of regular trips by the airline to Iraq although the company hasn't confirmed this. Russia's main airline, Aeroflot, has said it will resume flights when sanctions against Baghdad are lifted. Russia and France began sending aid flights to Baghdad last month, arguing that UN sanctions don't prohibit non-commercial flights.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service