Iraq, Iran to Swap Bodies from War

A02896658.jpgTEHRAN (FNA)- Tehran and Baghdad are to exchange the remains of soldiers killed during the 1980-88 Iraqi imposed war on Iran, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said.

“The delivery of the remains is set for November 15. We will receive the remains of 200 Iraqi soldiers in exchange for the remains of 41 Iranians,” Dabbagh said in a statement issued late on Friday.

He said the exchange will take place at a border post, but declined to reveal the exact place where the swap will happen.

“The Iraqi government will continue its efforts with the Iranian side to find solutions to outstanding issues, particularly those concerning humanitarian aspects,” Dabbagh said.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said in August that tens of thousands of members of the Iraqi and Iranian armed forces are still listed as missing 20 years after the war ended.

An estimated one million people from both sides, including a large number of Iranian civilians, were killed or went missing during the 1980-1988 war.

Mass graves from the war are still being found in Iraq, many containing the bodies of Iranian prisoners of war.

The International Committee of the Red Cross announced Oct. 16 that the two countries have agreed on how to gather and share information about the missing and hand over any remains uncovered.

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