News & Announcements

Ban encouraged all political parties to constructively engage in the government formation process.

Iraq is laying plans to rebuild its historic railways and become a transit hub for goods that would be shipped from Asia to Iraq's neighbours and beyond.

(Reuters) - Iraq has captured a suspected al Qaeda cell that planned to produce chemical poisons such as mustard gas to attack Iraqi forces and to ship overseas for attacks on Europe and the United States, the government said on Saturday.

The announcement was made as investigators look into allegations over the use of sarin nerve gas in next-door Syria where rebels and President Bashar al-Assad's forces have blamed each other for using chemical weapons.

The new projects will be open to foreign contractors and coincide with the Iraqi governments steps to facilitate the issue of visas to businessmen.

The bank lender opened its head office and first branch in Baghdad with plans to be an active participant in the economic growth of Iraq.

Iraq's total oil output has reached 4.7 million barrels per day (bpd) and exports are running at a record 3.9 million bpd, the state-run Iraqi Media Network reported, citing an oil official.

The figures are for all of Iraq, including the northern Kurdistan region and Kirkuk, Deputy Oil Minister Fayadh al-Nema said, according to the website.

The increased output came from the Luhais and Artawi fields in southern Iraq, he said.

(Reporting by Maher Chmaytelli; Editing by Kim Coghill)

Kuwait's national airline resumed flights to Iraq in the latest sign of improved ties between the neighboring countries.

The highest such figure in at least a quarter-century signifies an increase which is likely to restore confidence in Iraq's oil revival.

Steppes Travel, a company specializing in cultural and archaeological tours, will offer trips to Erbil, which is frequently referred to as the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world.