>Delivered-To: mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Reply-To: "STOP NATO: �NO PASARAN!" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Date: Mon, 06 Nov 2000 10:35:12 -0800 >From: Sandeep Vaidya <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >STOP NATO: �NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK > >Sunday, November 5 11:02 PM SGT > >Iraqis celebrate first domestic flights in decade of sanctions > >BASRA, Iraq, Nov 5 (AFP) - > >Tens of thousands of Iraqis turned out Sunday to greet the first planes >painted in the livery of Iraqi Airways to make >domestic flights since the 1991 Gulf War. > >"It's the first time in 10 years that I have seen a plane in the >national colours over the skies of Iraq," said Kamal Ali, a >28-year-old resident of the southern city of Basra which lies within a >"no-fly" zone imposed by the United States and >Britain. > >Kamal was among a crowd of around 10,000 who flocked to Basra airport >for the arrival of the Ilyushin from Baghdad >as Iraq relaunched its domestic service, suspended along with flights >abroad on the eve of the war over Kuwait. > >Many in the crowd waved portraits of President Saddam Hussein, whose air >defences have for the past two years >challenged US and British warplanes which patrol the skies of both >southern and northern Iraq. > >"The only things we see over Basra are enemy planes," another resident >told AFP, asking not to be named. > >The Basra flight, along with a flight from the capital's Saddam >International Airport to the northern city of Mosul, was >cause for celebration in the country which has been under sanctions >since its 1990 invasion of Kuwait. > >"This flight is a gift from President Saddam Hussein," an air hostess >announced on the Russian-built plane which carried >123 non-paying passengers and crew to Basra, including an AFP >journalist. > >"The plane flew at 26,000 feet (8,500 metres) and the trip was normal," >captain Sabah al-Duleimi told AFP after the >50-minute journey over a distance of 400 kilometres (250 miles). > >He voiced confidence in his aircraft, a cargo plane converted to >passenger use. > >"I care about the security of my passengers," the captain said, adding >that the same plane had also been used last year >for a Muslim pilgrimage flight to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. > >"Our staff are trained to ensure these flights go smoothly," added an >Iraqi Airways official, Walid Nafaa. > >An Antonov plane, also Russian-built, was used for the trip to Mosul and >was greeted by the provincial governor and a >similar crowd, the official news agency INA said. > >Iraqi Airways, which also has six helicopters available but whose >regular fleet has been stranded abroad for the past 10 >years, has announced it will provide a daily service on the two routes. > > >______________________________________________________________________ >To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Start Your Own FREE Email List at http://www.listbot.com/links/joinlb _______________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi _______________________________________________________ Kominform list for general information. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Anti-Imperialism list for anti-imperialist news. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________________
