Iraq offers Palestinians passport, shelter

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The Iraqi government and Kurdish leaders have agreed to give thousands of Palestinian refugees in Iraq a safe haven in northern Kurdish areas, a Palestinian official who negotiated the deal said Wednesday. The deal was brokered in Iraq last week following negotiations with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Kurdish leader Massoud Barazani and other officials, said the negotiator, Hamadah Faraaneh. He told The Associated Press that the Iraqi government also agreed to issue temporary passports for the Palestinians to enable them to travel outside the country. There was no immediate comment from the Iraqi government or Kurdish leaders.