Iraq searches second Syria-bound Iranian cargo plane
‘Only humanitarian aid and commercial goods’ on this aircraft as well, official says
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BAGHDAD (AP) — An Iraqi government spokesman said his country has forced a Syria-bound Iranian plane to land at Baghdad International Airport for search it for weapons.
Ali al-Moussawi said that only humanitarian aid and commercial goods were found on the Tuesday flight.
Iraq forced another Iranian plane to land the day before. The US has pressed Iraq to ban Iranian overflights to prevent arms reaching the forces of Tehran’s ally, Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Baghdad will not ban flights altogether, but last week it promised Washington that it would conduct more random searches of both vehicles traveling overland and aircraft in its airspace to check for weapons.
Officials said they will not allow Iraqi territory to be used to supply weapons to either side in Syria’s conflict.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
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