LONDON, June 20: An Iraqi Airways plane with Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari on board made a first flight to London since sanctions were imposed in 1990 for Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait, Iraqi officials said on Monday. Salah al-Shaikhly, the new Iraqi ambassador in London, said Jaafari arrived on Sunday in London, where he lived as an exile during Saddam’s rule, for a private visit during which he will meet members of the Iraqi community.

Government spokesman Laith Kubba said from Baghdad that Jaafari had flown from Kuwait, the airline’s ‘longest flight since 1990 owing to the limited capabilities of Iraqi aircraft’.

Jaafari flew on a Boeing 727, one of two planes owned by the Iraqi flag carrier, with the other being a slightly more recent Boeing 737.

Iraqi Airways operates daily flights from Baghdad to Amman.—AFP