Protests halt Mashad-Najaf flights

Mashad, July 14, IRNA – Flights from Iran's city of Mashad to the Iraqi holy city of Najaf have been paused until further notice due to the protests underway in the neighboring country's city, an official of Mashad international airport said on Saturday. Due to the current condition of Najaf airport, the flights are cancelled until the situation returns to normal, Hassan Jafari, head of public relations department of Shahid Hasheminejad International Airport, told the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). Some airlines, therefore, have changed their destination to Baghdad instead of Najaf, he said. Protests against poor governmental services and unemployment have begun since a week ago in some Iraqi cities. Hundreds of protesters on Friday entered the airport of Najaf, halting air traffic to and from the city. Mashad's Shahid Hasheminejad International Airport with an average number of 180 flights per day, is the busiest airport of Iran, following Tehran's Mehrabad Airport. 1378/IRNA