NICOSIA Ñ Iraq has issued another appeal for the return of aircraft
flown to Iran on the eve of the 1991 Gulf war.
Iraq said it flew 148 military and civilian aircraft to Teheran to avoid
destruction by the United States. Iran has never returned the aircraft,
linking it to demands for Iraqi compensation for the 1980-88 war between
Baghdad and Teheran.
Iran is holding 24 Su-24, 4 MiG-29s, four MiG-25s 12 MiG-23s, 24 Su-20
and S-25 fighter-jets. In addition, President Saddam Hussein ordered 20
Tu-22 bombers to Iran.
Most of the aircraft are said to have deteriorated through lack of
maintenance. Teheran, however, has quietly overhauled Iraq's fleet of 24
Mirage F-1B fighters.
Earlier this week, Saddam called on Iran and other countries to return
the aircraft, saying they would be used to help the Palestinian war against
Israel.
An Iraqi official said Iran has also blocked plans by Iraqi technicians
to maintain the aircraft. The official told the Baghdad-based Al Rafidin
magazine that this has hampered efforts to improve Iranian-Iraqi relations.
Baghdad has also asked Jordan and Tunisia to return the planes sent by
Iraq in 1991.