Tourists visit Iraq

The first officially sanctioned Western tour group since 2003 is visiting Iraq in the latest sign of improved security.

The eight tourists – including Britons and Americans – said they felt safe but did not have enough to see because many facilities remain closed.

The tour was arranged by a British organisation and included stops in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region and the ancient ruins of Babylon and Ur.

The group even visited the site of the destroyed golden domed shrine in Samarra, where a 2006 bombing triggered months of sectarian violence.

The group plans to leave tomorrow after a 15-day tour.