Paris - Some 115 European politicians, clergymen and members of non-governmental organisations flew to Baghdad from Paris yesterday afternoon, testing UN sanctions against Iraq.
The French aircraft left for a three-day trip to the Iraqi capital in apparent defiance of the US and Britain whose governments argue that such flights need the approval of the UN's sanctions committee. At least 10 countries, including Spain, Ireland and Russia, have sent planes to Baghdad to underline their view that humanitarian flights can be undertaken without UN approval.