Russia sends humanitarian aid to Iraq

Two Russian airplanes loaded with humanitarian cargoes left for Baghdad at dawn Tuesday, the Ministry for Emergency Situations said in Moscow.

Two Il-76 transport planes belonging to the ministry took off from Moscow at daybreak, carrying 23.2 tons of medicines, medical equipment and disinfectants, and 6,000 blankets to the war-torn country, the Interfax news agency reported.

On Saturday, Russia had airlifted 200 tents, heating equipment,lamps and books in Russian for Baghdad University to Iraq.

During the Iraq war, Russia delivered hundreds of tents, tons of medicines and foodstuff as humanitarian aid to Iraq, according to the ministry.

The Russian aid will be handed over to the Iraqi Health Ministry at the Baghdad airport.

Russia, a staunch opponent to the US-led war against Iraq in 2003, has traditional relations with Iraq and emphasizes the right of its companies to join Iraq's post-war reconstruction.

Source: Xinhua