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Iraq denies US inspection of Syria-bound Iranian flights

BAGHDAD, Oct 7 (KUNA) -- The Iraqi Ministry of Transport denied on Sunday recent reports that US security agencies participated in the inspection of Iranian aircraft bound for Syria.
"There is no US citizen at Baghdad International Airport tasked with inspect Iranian, or other national, aircraft," media advisor to the minister of transport Kareem Al-Nouri said in a press release.
"Only the Iraqi civil aviation authority has the exclusive mandate to inspect any plane crossing the Iraqi airspace; no other party is allowed to interfere," he affirmed.
The Iraqi authorities inspected an Iranian cargo plane at Baghdad airport a few days ago and allowed it to proceed to its destination in Syria after verified that it carried no munitions or banned materials, the Iraqi official added. (end) ahh.gb KUNA 072041 Oct 12NNNN