Syria lifts restrictions on Turkish shipments to Iraq: official

ANKARA, Oct 16 (AFP) - Syria has lifted restrictions on Turkish shipments to Iraq via a railway linking the three neighboring countries, Turkish Foreign Trade Minister Kursat Tuzmen told Anatolia news agency on Saturday.
"The positive outcome we reached on this issue will have a positive impact on our exports to Iraq," Tuzmen said. "It will also decrease to a certain extent the difficulties experienced by transporters."
The minister was referring to increasing violence in Iraq against Turkish drivers carrying goods to Iraq by road, which has prompted some transportation companies to cease their activities in the war-torn country.
Ankara sees the railway linking Turkey and Iraq via Syria as a safe route for transporters.
The Turkish media reported last month that Damascus had banned private Turkish companies from using Syrian railways to ship fuel and other products to Iraq.