IRAQ: IRAQ RESUMES DOMESTIC FLIGHTS THROUGH WESTERN-IMPOSED NO-FLY ZONES IN LASTEST SANCTION-BUSTING BID

Record ID: 647524

  • Title: IRAQ: IRAQ RESUMES DOMESTIC FLIGHTS THROUGH WESTERN-IMPOSED NO-FLY ZONES IN LASTEST SANCTION-BUSTING BID
  • Date: 5th November 2000
  • Summary: BAGHDAD, IRAQ (NOVEMBER 5 2000) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. WS: PASSENGERS IN SADDAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TERMINAL 0.04 2. VARIOUS: PASSENGERS CHECKING IN FOR FLIGHT (4 SHOTS) 0.17 3. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) PASSENGER KHEIRI KHADIM SAYING: "So this is the first flight by Iraqi airways after some ten years - the stoppage of Iraqi Airways flights - both domestic and abroad - I'm travelling to Basra today". 0.30 4. SCU: DEPARTURES SIGN 0.33 5. SCU: (SOUNDBITE)(Arabic) NAJLA ABDUL-FATAH SAYING: "No threats will stop us and we look forward to visiting countries around the world by plane as we did before." 0.43 6. SV/CU/WS: PEOPLE DANCING AS THEY GO THROUGH DEPARTURES/IRAQI AIRLINES PLANE ON TARMAC (3 SHOTS) 0.52 7. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS AHMED MURTADHA AHMED SAYING: "There is no resolution at all to prevent those flights - this is Iraqi land and this is Iraqi territory and these are Iraqi airplanes, so we have to do them (flights).' 1.07 8. PAN: BUS TAKING PASSENGERS TO PLANE 1.15 9. VARIOUS: PEOPLE BOARDING PLANE, IRAQI AIRLINES FLIGHT ATTENDANT (4 SHOTS) 1.28 10. MV: PEOPLE SEATED ON BOARD AIRCRAFT 1.31 11. SV: MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS AHMED MURTADHA AHMED WALKING NEAR COCKPIT 1.34 12. WS: IRAQI AIRLINES PLANE ON TARMAC 1.37 13. SV: PILOT GIVES VICTORY SIGN FROM COCKPIT WINDOW 1.40 14. WS: PEOPLE WATCHING 1.44 15. SCU/MV: AIRCRAFT SIGNALLER/AIRCRAFT TAXIING (2 SHOTS) 1.56 16. MV: SADDAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TERMINAL BUILDING 1.59 17. PAN: AIRCRAFT TAKES OFF 2.06 18. LV: PEOPLE 2.08 19. AIRBORNE AIRCRAFT 2.12 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 20th November 2000 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVAA3QJSPET5WCVUMJP3XLWVZP9K
  • Story Text: Iraq has resumed domestic flights through
    Western-imposed no-fly zones in its latest bid to bust out of
    a Western-imposed straitjacket of post-Gulf War sanctions.



    Two aircraft took off from newly reopened Baghdad's
    Saddam International Airport at 1:15 p.m. (1015 GMT) on Sunday
    (November 5), according to witnesses. One was on a 600 km (375
    miles) flight to the southern city of Basra and another was
    heading to the city of Mosul, 450 km (270 miles) to the north.

    The two planes were carrying businessmen and journalists
    among the passengers.

    The two planes would have to fly through no-fly zones
    imposed by the United States and Britain to protect Shi'ite
    Muslims in the south and a Kurdish enclave in the north from
    possible attacks by Baghdad troops.

    Both the United States and Britain said last Monday
    (October 30) they had no objection to the civilian flights and
    that the no-fly zones were intended to inhibit military
    activity. Iraq had announced its intention to resume civilian
    flights to Mosul and Basra, located within the northern and
    southern no-fly zones.

    Iraq had resumed domestic flights in 1992, a year after
    they were disrupted by the Gulf War, but suspended them again
    because of the no-fly zones. Baghdad said at the time that its
    aircraft needed maintenance.

    On Sunday Iraq's Minister of Transport and Communications
    Ahmed Murthada was at Saddam International Airport to see one
    of the planes take off. He said: "There is no resolution at
    all to prevent those flights - this is Iraqi land and this is
    Iraqi territory and these are Iraqi airplanes, so we have to
    do them (flights).'
    One passenger Najla Abdul-Fatah, looking forward to her
    first flight in years, said: "No threats will stop us and we
    look forward to visiting countries around the world by plane
    as we did before."
    The passengers made their way through departures to the
    sound of music. They appeared in jubilant mood.

    On the tarmac the Iraqi Airlines pilot gave a victory sign
    as the aircraft began to move off watched by onlookers.

    Iraq has been chipping away at the U.N. economic
    sanctions, attracting a growing stream of "humanitarian"
    flights and agreeing regular charter flights with Russia,
    although core sanctions imposed after Saddam invaded Kuwait in
    1990 remain in force and only a U.N. Security Council decision
    can remove them.




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