Basra development conference starts

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Basra development conference started on Thursday in the province. “The conference is devoted not only develop Basra, but Iraq as a whole,” the Iraqi Planning Minister said while addressing the conference, which was attended by IraqiNews.com news agency. He said that Basra would become one of the most important trade centers in the world. The oil-rich city of Basra lies 590 km south of Baghdad. MH (P)/SR  1