The World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreed yesterday to begin accession talks with Iraq and Afghanistan, but the United States again blocked any negotiations with Iran, diplomats said.

The go-ahead for Iraq and Afghanistan came with no dissenting voice among the trade body's 148 member-states, but Washington said it was still studying Iran's request - the same answer it has given for the past three years.

But while the door to the WTO is open for Kabul and Baghdad, entering the Geneva-based organisation can be a lengthy process, with Russia and Saudi Arabia still in talks after a decade.

"The new Iraq looks with great optimism at achieving political stability, economic prosperity and social development," Iraqi Trade Minister Mr Mohammed al-Jibouri told the closed-door council meeting.

"Our re-integration into the world trading system is an essential element to fulfil those aims," he said. Being in the WTO guarantees that a country's goods receive equal treatment in the markets of other member-states.

Many new members - China being a recent example - have reaped huge economic benefit from belonging to the club.

Washington has extensive sanctions in force against Iran. Iran's accession has been on the council's agenda some 20 times since early 2001, always with the same result, prompting some countries to accuse the US of double standards.

"We have difficulties in understanding why this application is being dealt with in a different way than others," China's WTO envoy Mr Sun Zhenyu told the council. The European Union and several other developed country members also called for the speedy opening of negotiations with Iraq, something Middle Eastern states have long sought.

France has formally proposed former European Union Trade Commissioner Mr Pascal Lamy as a candidate to head the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The 57-year-old Frenchman faces competition from Mr Luis Felipe Seixas Correa, Brazil's WTO envoy, and at least two other developing country candidates - from Mauritius and Uruguay. A decision is expected by the end of May. - (Reuters)