Iraq to ship 220,000 tons of wheat to Syria as a gift

CAIRO - Iraq will ship 220,000 tons of wheat to Syria as "a gift", Syrian media said on Friday, citing the director of the General Organization for Grains, adding that the first batch has already arrived in Syria's Deir el-Zor.

Syria had bought about 100,000 tons of wheat in its previous tender reported on March 25, which was believed to be the first large purchase tender since the change of power in Syria late last year.

Syrian officials of the new Islamist-led government say that while imports of wheat and other basics are not subject to US and UN sanctions, challenges in securing financing for trade deals have deterred global suppliers from selling to Syria.

Russia and Iran, both major backers of former President Bashar al-Assad who was ousted by rebels in December, previously provided most of Syria's wheat and oil products, but stopped after the rebels triumphed and Assad fled to Moscow.

A ship carrying wheat has arrived in Syria's Latakia port, the first delivery of its kind since Assad was ousted by rebels, the government said on Sunday.