Iraq searches Syria-bound cargo plane from Iran < br />

2012-10-29 11:38:21 GMT+7 (ICT)

BAGHDAD, IRAQ (BNO NEWS) -- Iraqi authorities on Saturday ordered a Syria-bound cargo plane to land in the capital Baghdad to make sure it was not carrying weapons or other prohibited items, nearly a month after a similar search was carried out, Iraqi aviation officials said on Sunday.

The Iranian cargo plane was en-route to the Syrian capital of Damascus when it was ordered to land at Baghdad International Airport, Iraq's largest airport, to undergo a search for prohibited items which could be used by the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during the ongoing civil war.

The Iraq Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) said the aircraft was forced to land and searched, but only medical supplies, food, and humanitarian goods were found to be on board. Authorities later allowed the plane to continue flying to Syria as no prohibited items were on board.

Earlier this month, on October 2, Iraqi authorities ordered another Iranian cargo plane to land in Baghdad to make sure no weapons were on board. The searches come after the United States urged Iraqi authorities to check all Iranian aircraft flying through its airspace, but Iraq has said it will only search planes when there are doubts.

In October 2011, the Iraq Civil Aviation Authority assumed full control of airspace covering Baghdad. With the transfer of the Baghdad/Balad Airspace sector, Iraqi authorities assumed full air traffic control responsibilities for the country's airspace for the first time since 2003, when a U.S.-led invasion led to the ouster of Saddam Hussein's regime.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2012-10-29

Bumped as this is the most recent thread on Syria:

Syria opposition agrees to united coalition

Anti-regime groups meeting in Doha sign intitial agreement to form united group called the Syrian National Coalition.

Last Modified: 11 Nov 2012 12:07

Syrian opposition groups meeting in the Qatari capital have signed an initial agreement to form a united group called the Syrian National Coalition.

Details of the agreement are still being negotiated; a delegate at the talks told reporters they would discuss specifics at meetings on Sunday night.

"An initial deal has been signed. The evening session will be for electing the president of the body and his deputy," Ali Sadreddine al-Bayanouni, a Muslim Brotherhood delegate at the talks, told reporters.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/11/2012111022432481597.html

Good to hear Iraq is doing something tangible to try to lessen strife in Syria. Good also, to hear they're playing a part on the int'l stage, instead of just having endless problems and needing non-stop assistance. Hello Iraqis: Get your country together. Stand on your own feet. Don't be a basket case forever.

It should have been divided into a federation of three states within months of the USA invading it. But then they'd be bitching over the oil revenues.

Good to hear Iraq is doing something tangible to try to lessen strife in Syria. Good also, to hear they're playing a part on the int'l stage, instead of just having endless problems and needing non-stop assistance. Hello Iraqis: Get your country together. Stand on your own feet. Don't be a basket case forever.

You don't really believe this is anything but window dressing do you? The Iraq government is now very much in the orbit of Tehran and any searching of planes was no doubt coordinated with Iran to ensure nothing untoward was found on it. Incidentally giving the Syrian rebels a new moniker does not in any way change their politics, it simply allows them to be represented en mass as politicians see fit to do.

It should have been divided into a federation of three states within months of the USA invading it. But then they'd be bitching over the oil revenues.

Nothing like hind sight to become an expert.

It should have been divided into a federation of three states within months of the USA invading it. But then they'd be bitching over the oil revenues.

Nothing like hind sight to become an expert.

What are you on about, it was always obvious it was going to turn into a civil war as soon as Bush decide to topple Saddam.

And the Kurds would be quite happy turning into a nation state if they had their way.

Edited November 12, 201213 yr by Chicog

Topic is about the search of a Syria -bound cargo plane.

If you're going to bump an article, how about sticking to related comments?

Sent from my ALCATEL_one_touch_918D using Thaivisa Connect App

True.

It's the Daily Mail, but this is still not the sort of thing you want to hear. One step closer to another Middle East vacation for our soldiers, like they haven't had enough already.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2231390/UK-s-soldier-warns-British-troops-deployed-Syria-warzone.html

Not long now until crunch time ……..

Israeli military reports 'direct hits' on targets in Syria

http://www.timescolonist.com /news/Syrian+helicopters+bomb+area+near+Turkish+border+after+rebels/7531844/story.html#ixzz2C15sjfxs

Edited November 12, 201213 yr by Asiantravel

No surprise that this was relegated to the inside pages.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/iran-hosts-syrian-peace-conference/2012/11/18/f64bcdae-3186-11e2-92f0-496af208bf23_story.html