CAIRO: Iraqi refugees have gathered at Cairo s airport to catch the first government-funded flight from Egypt back home to Baghdad.
Saad Ridha, the Iraqi charge d affairs in Cairo, says the group will fly free of charge to Baghdad later Monday afternoon on Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki s plane.
Many of those returning fled Iraq s violence after the 2003 US-led invasion. Ridha says the flight is evidence that security has improved in Iraq.
Ridha says another plane will take off Wednesday from Cairo to Baghdad carrying more Iraqis who want to return home willingly and voluntarily.
Since 2003, about 2 million Iraqis migrated to neighboring countries, mainly Syria, Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon and Egypt. -AP
