IRAQ: Baghdad turns orange as a dust storm blankets the Iraqi capital on the eve of crucial nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers
Record ID:
862883
IRAQ: Baghdad turns orange as a dust storm blankets the Iraqi capital on the eve of crucial nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers
- Title: IRAQ: Baghdad turns orange as a dust storm blankets the Iraqi capital on the eve of crucial nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers
- Date: 23rd May 2012
- Summary: BAGHDAD, IRAQ (MAY 22, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF IRAQI STREETS SHROUDED IN DUST POLICEMAN GUIDING TRAFFIC MORE OF TRAFFIC AND PEDESTRIANS / DRIVERS WEARING MASKS YOUNG MAN WEARING MASK AIDED BY RELATIVE WALKING INTO HOSPITAL VARIOUS OF WOMAN STRUGGLING TO BREATH LYING ON HOSPITAL BED VARIOUS OF MAN BREATHING THROUGH OXYGEN MASK ANOTHER MAN LYING ON HOSPITAL BED
- Embargoed: 7th June 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Iraq
- City:
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Disasters,Weather
- Reuters ID: LVAB9N8EMUFZC5RMTFXOKS5GF6AZ
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: A dust storm shrouded the Iraqi capital in a haze for a second day on Tuesday (May 22), forcing residents to remain indoors and reducing visibility a day ahead of a round of talks between Tehran and six world powers over its disputed nuclear programme.
Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili arrived in Baghdad on Monday night (May 21) for the talks between Iran and the P5+1 group -- Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States, and Germany.
Airport officials said that flights to and from Baghdad were cancelled on Tuesday, and that flights would be resumed when weather improves.
The capital's weather forecasting centre said the sandstorm was expected to last for 72 hours.
The dusty weather is a consequence of a low rainfall, which was 30 percent below average this year.
Many Baghdad shops stayed shut on Tuesday, while police wearing masks directed thin streams of traffic through misty streets.
Hospital emergency rooms were filled with people suffering respiratory problems.
World powers want Iran to curb uranium enrichment, which can yield fuel for nuclear power plants or for nuclear bombs, depending on the level of refinement.
Iran, to general disbelief from its Israeli and Western adversaries, insists its nuclear programme is intended only to generate electricity in a country that is one of world's top oil exporters and to produce isotopes for cancer treatment.
In Baghdad, the powers' main goal is to get Iran to stop the higher-grade uranium enrichment it started two years ago and has since expanded, shortening the time needed for any weapons bid.
Iran says it needs uranium enriched to a fissile concentration of 20 percent for its medical isotope reactor. Enrichment to 5 percent of fissile purity is suitable for power plant fuel, while 90 percent constitutes fuel for bombs. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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