Jordan to help rehabilitate grounded Iraqi planes

AMMAN, Jordan (Reuters) -- Jordan has agreed in principle to help Iraq rehabilitate six of its U.S.-built civilian aircraft grounded in Amman for nearly 10 years, the Jordan Times reported on Friday.

The newspaper, quoting official sources, said the two countries reached agreement on the Boeing planes during talks held by Jordanian Prime Minister Ali Abu al-Ragheb in Baghdad last week.

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It said Jordan would provide support to Iraqi maintenance teams in repair efforts.

Jordanian Information Minister Taleb al-Rifai was quoted by Al-Arab Al-Yawm daily as saying Jordan did not oppose returning the planes to Iraq.

"If there are hurdles, they are primarily technical," Rifai said.

Aviation sources say the six Boeings -- four 727's and two 707s -- are not airworthy and require major overhaul.

In Baghdad, al-Zawra weekly newspaper reported on Thursday that Jordan would return the planes soon.

"Six planes which were in Jordan since 1991 will be back shortly to join the Iraqi fleet of airliners," the weekly quoted a Transport and Communications Ministry official as saying.

"The planes will carry Muslim pilgrims to perform this year's pilgrimage rituals," the source added.

Iraq dispersed its airliners to foreign airports to protect them against possible attack shortly before the 1991 Gulf War.

Iraqi sources say the 37 planes include 15 Boeings of all types and 22 Russian-built Ilyushin 76s. Six of the Boeings are in Amman and four in Tunis. A further five Boeings are in Tehran, together with all 22 Ilyshins.

Iraqi Airways last week resumed regular domestic civilian flights. It had been grounded since the United Nations imposed sanctions on Iraq for Baghdad's 1990 invasion of Kuwait. The only exceptions had been a few flights carrying Iraqi Muslim pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

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