Baghdad Airport re-opens after dispute with British firm

Baghdad International Airport – the country’s only reliable and relatively safe link to the outside world – reopened today after being closed for a day over a cash dispute between the government and a British company providing security there.

“We have reached agreement with the Global security firm, and the airport is open now for domestic and international flights,” said Esmat Amer, Iraq’s acting transportation minister. He refused to give any details about the agreement.

London-based Global Strategies Group has been providing security at the sprawling airport 12 miles from downtown Baghdad since last year. Yesterday, Global suspended operations claiming the ministry of transportation – which owns the airport – was six months behind in payments.