Pretoria — Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz is expected to arrive in South Africa later this afternoon for a six-day visit, at the invitation of Deputy President Jacob Zuma.

Mr Zuma extended the invitation to Mr Aziz, after South Africa sent humanitarian aid to Iraq in June last year.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement, government would exchange views with Mr Aziz on the situation in the Middle East, and in particular, on the expected effects of the new sanctions regime for the people of Iraq.

'The people of Iraq have been subjected to severe suffering by more than ten years of stringent international sanctions.' There will also be discussions on ways of breaking the impasse on weapons inspections.

The arms inspectors, key to suspending the 12-year-old UN sanctions against Iraq, left on the eve of a US-British bombing campaign in December 1998, and have since not been allowed to return to check on any remaining weapons of mass destruction programmes.

During his visit, Mr Aziz will hold political discussions with Deputy President Zuma and with foreign affairs deputy minister Aziz Pahad.

Health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang and minerals and energy minister Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka will also hold bilateral meetings with Mr Aziz.