

Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al Sabah said the country had granted Iraq $60 million for infrastructure rehabilitation.
The minister made the announcement ahead of the recent international conference on Iraqi reconstruction.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari said recently at the end of a two-day visit to Kuwait that he secured a pledge for aid to support Iraqi public services.
Last August, Kuwait earmarked an equal amount in aid to the neighbouring state.
The grants are part of a $1.5-billion aid package to Iraq pledged at an international donors conference in Madrid in October 2003.
Nearly $1 billion has been spent on fuel, relief aid, medical assistance, power generators and water desalination equipment during and after the invasion of Iraq that toppled Saddam Hussein.
Sheikh Mohammad also said the state-run Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) would contribute to Iraq's reconstruction through soft loans.
Kuwait agreed in January 2004 to substantially reduce an estimated $16-billion debt owed to it by Iraq, but has so far refused to reconsider war reparation claims worth $170 billion.
Kuwaiti Energy Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah has also pledged support to Iraq's reconstruction especially in the oil and electricity sectors.
Sheikh Ahmad made the remarks after his recent meeting with visiting Iraqi Oil Minister Ibrahim Bahr Al Uloum.
Sheikh Ahmad said Kuwait had agreed to offer grants to Iraq to boost the country's reconstruction and development especially in the oil, transport, electricity and health sectors.
The two sides discussed the role KFAED in helping Iraq cope with electrical shortage through the rehabilitation and construction of power stations, he added.
Talks also covered providing Iraq with Kuwaiti gasoline, diesel and petroleum derivatives, he added.
The Iraqi oil minister accompanied his prime minister during the Kuwait visit.
Kuwaiti Premier Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah held talks with Jaafari over bilateral co-operation and relations.