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Iraq opens interest section in Damascus paper

BAGHDAD: Iraq has opened an interest section in Syria for the first time since the rival Arab powers severed ties 19 years ago, an Iraqi newspaper reported on Saturday.

"Iraq has opened an interest section in the Syrian capital Damascus and Iraqi diplomats have begun work since last week in the section opened in the Algerian embassy there," the weekly Sout al-Talaba (students' voice) reported.

There was no immediate official word on when Syria would open an interest section in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

Iraq and Syria, ruled by rival factions of the Baath party, cut diplomatic relations in August 1980 when Damascus sided with traditional ally Iran in its war with Baghdad.

Relations deteriorated further when Damascus joined a US-led alliance which drove Iraqi forces out of Kuwait in early 1991.

The two states agreed three years ago to reopen their borders and engage in economic cooperation. Syria has backed calls for the lifting of UN sanctions imposed on Iraq because of its invasion of Kuwait.

During the last three years, Syria struck deals to export food and medicine to Iraq worth $150 million and signed other contracts under the terms of Iraq's oil-for-food deal with the United Nations.-Reuters