Iraq has reported the first flight by a U2 spy plane over its territory on today as part of the United Nations search for evidence of weapons of mass destruction.
A Foreign Ministry statement reporting the activity of UN weapons inspectors said a U2 plane entered Iraqi airspace at 8.55 a.m. (Irish Time) and flew over several areas.
"The surveillance operation lasted four hours and 20 minutes," the statement said.
Under intense pressure, Iraq agreed last week to the U2 surveillance flights and other flights over the country.
It had said it could not guarantee the safety of the aircraft while US and British warplanes patrolled two "no-fly" zones over Iraq.
The planes are on loan to the UNinspectors from the United States.
