Iraq has agreed with Turkey on the return of over 13,000 Turkish refugees in Iraq, local newspaper Al Sabah reported Wednesday.

Iraq agreed to return the refugees belonging to the Turkish Workers Party, and meanwhile asked for Turkish guarantees to their safety in future, said the paper which is close to the US-led coalition.

In the mean time, Iraq is trying to agree with Iran on the return of Iranian refugees, the report said.

"Iraq is conducting talks with the Iranian side to reach a similar agreement that allows the return of the Iranian refugees from Mujaheedin Khalq organization," said Minister of Immigrants Mohammed Jassim Khudhair.

He emphasized that if the Iranian government refused to give guarantees other than the pardon it issued, Iraq would submit the case to the United Nations to take necessary actions.

Thousands of Turkish and Iranian citizens belonging to anti-government groups have been taking shelters in Iraq for years.

Source: Xinhua