Despite sanctions, third Egypt plane flies to Iraq

CAIRO, Egypt (Reuters) -- An EgyptAir plane flew to Baghdad on Saturday, the latest of a string of flights in recent weeks to protest against the U.N. sanctions on Iraq, airport sources said.

The plane, with 123 businessmen, actors, sports and media people on board, carried medical and food assistance to Iraqi children.

The plane is the latest of several sent to Baghdad by Arab and non-Arab countries opposed to U.N. sanctions since Baghdad International Airport reopened on August 17 for the first time since 1990.

It is also the third Egyptian flight to Iraq this month, despite U.S. complaints about planes landing in Baghdad without the approval of the U.N. sanctions committee.

The United States says all flights to Baghdad must have clearance from the sanctions committee but some countries, led by France and Russia, dispute this interpretation of the U.N. resolutions passed at the end of the 1991 Gulf War.

They said flights carrying humanitarian supplies need only notify the committee that they are going.

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