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TEHRAN, Aug 29 (AFP)
- Iraq's interim deputy prime minister, Barham
Saleh, arrived in Tehran Sunday for a visit seen as
an effort to heal a rift between the neighbours and
prepare for a future visit by Iraqi premier Iyad
Allawi.
Saleh, a Kurd from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan
(PUK), was reported to have arrived here on a direct
flight from Baghdad -- the first for more than 25
years.
"Different subjects will be discussed, but the most
important is the issue is that of the Iranian
nationals who are captive in Iraq," foreign ministry
spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told reporters before
Saleh was seen arriving at the ministry for talks.
An Iranian diplomat, Fereydun Jahani, went missing
on August 4 on the road leading from Baghdad to
Karbala, in central Iraq, where Tehran was set to
open a consulate.
His kidnapping was claimed by the Islamic Army of
Iraq, which was reported to have issued threats
against him but is not known to have carried them
out.
An additional source of tension are accusations from
Iraqi officials, who have joined the Americans in
alleging Iran has been involved in a three-week-long
Shiite Muslim uprising in the south and centre and
even of arming the rebels.
Shiites are the majority of the population in both
neighbouring countries.
No date has yet been set for Allawi's visit despite
a formal invitation by Iran and trips to Iraq's
other neighbours. Iraqi Vice President Ibrahim al-Jafari
made a surprise trip to Iran on Tuesday.
AFP , http://www.turkishpress.com
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