London - An aid flight to Iraq organised by the Labour MP Mr George Galloway, with a Gulf War veteran, Mr John Nichol, on board, is to go ahead after the British Foreign Office reconsidered its decision to block the mission.
The flight, which will be the first direct civilian flight between Britain and Baghdad since the war, is due to carry medicine, aid workers, doctors and journalists to Iraq.
Flt Lieut Nichol, who was shot down and captured by Iraq during the war, intended to use his visit as an act of reconciliation, and Mr Galloway suggested this was why the flight had been blocked.
A Foreign Office official said the decision to support the flight plan had been made following an agreement by Mr Galloway to reduce the numbers of passengers on board.