BAGHDAD (AP) — An Iraqi government official says Baghdad has banned a North Korean plane from using its airspace on suspicion it is carrying weapons to war-torn Syria.
Iraqi spokesman Ali al-Moussawi said Friday that the government rejected the request from Pyongyang to fly a plane to Syria through Iraqi skies. He did not elaborate.
North Korea is a longtime ally to Syrian President Bashar Assad, whose military has battled opposition forces after an 18-month-old uprising that has become a civil war.
U.S. officials have accused Baghdad of allowing Iran fly weapons to Assad's forces through Iraqi airspace. Iraq denies the claims.
