Saudi Arabia restored direct telephone lines with Iraq for the first time since the Gulf war of 1991.
The renewed service was inaugurated on Saturday with a call between Abdel Rahman al-Zamil of the Saudi Center for Developing Exports and Iraqi Industry minister Maisar Rija Shilah.
An official said the move was based on economic, not political motives. In comments published Sunday in Al-Watan, al-Zamil said the telephone link was re-established upon the request of Saudi business interests. (Albawaba.com)
