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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The Iraqi authorities announced on Sunday its intention to close the only border crossing between Iraq and Jordan for 48 hours as of Tuesday for "internal urgent reasons."

Iraqi Ambassador in Amman Jawad Abbas told Ammon News that the decision to close the border is a "sovereign Iraqi decision that does not require justification."

The Iraqi authorities informed the Jordanian authorities that it will close the Traibeel border crossing with Jordan at Al-Karamah starting Tuesday morning, a press release issued by the Iraqi Ministry of Interior said on Sunday.

The ambassador stressed that he is in communication with officials at the Interior Ministry in Baghdad to ensure that the closure does not affect trade between the two countries, particularly fruit and vegetable exports, so as not to harm Jordanian farmers "who are already economically hit by the events in Syria."

The Iraqi ministry of interior said in its statement that the closure will not affect air traffic, which will operate as usual during the closure period and without any change to scheduled flights.

The press release added that the ministry is coordinating with the Iraqi embassy in Amman to ensure the flow of Jordan's agricultural exports to Iraq during the closure period.

The border crossing, which is some 370 km from Jordan's capital Amman and 570 km from the Iraqi capital Baghdad, is the only border crossing between the two countries and witnesses a constant flow of travelers and goods, as well as Iraqi crude oil being transported to Jordan by trucks, Jordan News Agency Petra said.

Regarding recent developments in Iraq, Ambassador Abbas said that the latest wave of violence is a "strive reawakened by Al-Qae'da and Saddam's supporters."

The Ambassador stressed Iraqi citizens' right to peaceful demonstration and freedom of expression, but warned that some are attempting to "ignite strife" in iraq by mobilizing sectarian animosity.